Exploring Scugdale from Carlton Bank
7 miles Dull and wet
We drove up the steep hill on Alum House Lane, the Carlton to Chop Gate road, and parked at Lord Stones Cafe where parking is allowed during cafe hours.
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| Today's walk from The Walker's Guide to the Cleveland Hills |
Leaving the car park we walked back along the Carlton road for a few yards until we reached a Cleveland Way sign. Here we turned left off the road and almost immediately turned left off the Cleveland Way to follow the wide access road for the old Gliding Club (now demolished) steadily uphill.
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| The old Gliding Club access road |
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| Looking down into Raisdale from our climb |
Reaching the moor top we turned left off the access road where a footpath sign indicated our track across the heather. The first feature one comes to on this path is the rocky outcrop of Stone Ruck. Tom Scott Burns explains that Ruck is derived from the Old Norse bruga meaning 'to pile or heap up', as in a cairn.
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| Bear left. "I'm sure there used to be a sign here!" |
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| Approaching Stone Ruck |
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| Stone Ruck from our path |
We followed the path for a mile or so across the moor until we came to Brian's Pond, where we always ponder on its unusual name. Did Brian drown there or did he own it? The name's origin seems lost in time and my previous research efforts with books and Google have come to nought. |
| Brian's Pond |
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| Onward across the moor |
We continued on our way climbing steadily over Clough Gill Top, where a signpost indicates a choice of routes. We took the right fork that ascends steadily to the moor rim where we suddenly came upon the valley of Scugdale. To one's right are the rocks of Barker's Crags and below are the buildings of Scugdale Hall. This spot gives one of my favourite views in North Yorkshire.
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| Clough Gill Top. Right at the sign |
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| Scugdale below |
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| The cyclist stopped to explain the gate was locked on the bridleway above, hence his footpath presence |
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| Descending and looking north along Scugdale valley |
Tom Scott Burns informs us that Scugdale means 'the sheltered dale' from the Danish skygger - to overshadow.
We descended across a couple of fields to reach the dale road where we turned left to walk towards the top of the valley and High House. Over the years the dales road has been strengthened with stones, tarmac, pottery and bricks and we found several old bricks embedded in the lane bearing the name Old Linthorpe.
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| Barker's Crags and hardy cattle who have the run of the dale |
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| The dale road |
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| Reaching the dale road we turn left |
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| Road ballast |
A google search shows that these Old Linthorpe bricks were manufactured by a George Grubb Dalton, Brick Manufacturer, Builder & Contractor, Linthorpe, Middlesbrough, who is recorded in the London Gazette as giving Notice of Intended Dividends on the 13th November 1888.
We followed the dales road south to reach High House. TSB records that in this old farmhouse lived Harry Cooper who was reputed to be the tallest man in the world, standing at 8'6". He left Scugdale to join Barnum's Circus in America and died in 1898 at the age of 41.
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| Unoccupied High House |
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| Outbuildings going to ruin |
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| Cross the stile at the end of the outbuildings |
Just beyond the house we turned right off the lane into fields at a dilapidated stile. This part of the walk appears untrodden but there are guiding way-marks at field boundaries and we descended to reach and cross Scugdale Beck where we found (as on our previous visit) the old bridge that continues to serve no useful purpose, having been displaced by winter storms some years ago.
As we walked towards High House we looked across the dale at the remains of jet mine workings. When jet jewellery became fashionable in Victorian times Bilsdale, Raisdale and Scugdale were heavily mined. Mining was a simple affair, the miners tunnelled into the hillside and the shale was brought out and examined for jet. The spoil was then tipped down the hillside leaving long piles of rubble. An interesting article here provides more information about mining in the area.
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| Old jet mine workings |
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| Watch for way-marks |
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| ... and they will guide you |
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| ... to the displaced bridge |
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| Crossing Scugdale beck |
After crossing the beck we climbed up a steep bank to join the faint path that takes one down the valley of Scugdale, walking under old jet and alum workings, to reach the farm with the unusual name of Holiday House. It is named as such on a 1940s map I have seen and I would like to know the reason for its strange name.
Just before the farm we stopped for coffee and scones, and sat looking across to Scugdale Hall on the other side of the valley.
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| Climbing up from Scugdale Beck |
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A couple of horses spot us..
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| .. but don't come to see us |
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| Obstacle |
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| Two bridges just before Holiday House |
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| Scugdale Hall |
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| Coffee with a view |
We followed the farm track down and on reaching the dale lane turned left and walked north for a mile or so, until we reached the buildings of Fog Close Farm.
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| Holiday House Farm |
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| Back on the Dale road |
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| The Gaffer. Bull at Fog Farm |
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| ... and his ladies in the field opposite |
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| The access gate at Fog Farm is almost hidden behind a hedge and there are no way-marks |
This is the most difficult part of the walk as there are no waymarks until you have actually passed the farm building. So, confident in the knowledge that you are on a footpath and have right of way, go through the farm gate of Fog Close Farm then turn right again to walk past the farm buildings. Just past the farm take a left and head up towards the fence line where finally there is a waymark to be seen on a gate. The ground is always very muddy here but go through the gate and head up towards the moor.
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| Looking down across Snotterdale and back to Scugdale |
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| A wet path below Live Moor |
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| Snotterdale |
