Castleton to Danby Head and the Seated Man

Please note - The Seated Man was relocated to Yorkshire Sculpture Park on 17th April 2019

8 miles                         Fine but cool

We thought we would walk over to revisit the bronze statue of the Seated Man, a walk that includes the pretty valley of Eskdale.

We drove to Castleton and parked on the outskirts of the village at a free car park on the Westerdale road, see map below.

OS Map of today's route

Leaving the car we walked back towards Castleton and as we reached the first houses turned right at a wooden sign with the Fish emblem signifying the Esk Valley Walk.  Our path followed a farm track, to reach and pass by Didderhowe Farm into fields.

Walking into Castleton

Turn right off the road opposite this sign...

... into the lane to Didderhowe Farm

Old level crossing sign at Didderhowe Farm

Follow the fish way-marks for the Esk Valley Walk

Looking back at Didderhowe Farm

Following the lightly worn path across the fields we came to a couple of farm workers digging.  They explained that there was an old drain across the field which had collapsed slightly and they were worried someone might fall in, so intended to bridge the drain with some old railway sleepers that they had on the back of the trailer.  We saw that the old drain was lined with stone blocks and the workers said this showed the drain would be a couple of hundred years old.  They were worrying that they hadn't brought any lunch and the job was taking longer than they expected.

Following a faint path across the fields

If only they'd brought a couple more spades...!

Stone lined drain

We met and crossed a lane into a tarmac farm track leading to West Green Farm.  Our directions were clearly indicated at all times by the Esk Valley Walk way-marks.

Dog weather-vane at West Green Farm

Pet lambs run hopefully to Clive

Still a few cattle waiting to be turned out

The tarmac lane continues from West Green Farm to Plum Tree Farm and then Blackmires Farm, all well ordered, tidy farms.

Following the lane between farms

A stretch of the lane has been turned into a nursery - we must pass!

Our passing causes a bit of a panic

Left behind!

Jacob Sheep at Plum Tree Farm

It was interesting to watch a dry stone wall being repaired at Blackmires Farm and then we spent a few minutes watching peacocks.  There were several males competing for the attentions of the white pea-hens and we agreed that the noise of their screeching would soon have us reaching for the shotgun.

Dry stone walling

The Dry Stone Waller's specialised Land Rover

Peacocks at Blackmire Farm

Look at me!

We passed Stormy Hall, where we stopped to look at their pigs, and our path entered a field with calves... and their mothers!  We hurried across but soon found that we were being pursued by cows. Curious or irate? We weren't sure so we increased speed to the safety of the next field.

Another half mile brought us to the charmingly named Honey Bee Nest Farm.  Here our path passed through the farmyard before turning sharp right to climb steeply uphill.  We had arrived at Danby Head and as we reached a stone wall we decided its shelter would be an ideal spot to enjoy our coffee and scones.

Rare white cattle at Blackmires Farm

Passing through Stormy Hall farmyard

Pigs at Stormy Hall

Calves

Pursuit!

We look back from the safety of the next field

Danby Head

Honey Bee Nest Farm

Coffee and scones above Honey Bee Nest Farm

Finishing our coffee we pressed on uphill before walking alongside a forestry plantation where we disturbed a pheasant with its chicks. Another uphill stretch led us to the Castleton road.

Through the gate and...

.. we disturb a young family of pheasants who disappear into the wall

A slow climb leads gradually to the Castleton road

Looking back down into Eskdale

Walking alongside the Castleton road

We turned right onto the road and walked along the grassy verge for about a mile.  We turned left off the Castleton road when we reached a minor road to Westerdale, and quickly turned right again off the road onto Castleton Rigg, to climb an indistinct but easy path through the heather.  

At the top of Brown Hill we followed a more distinct path to the left where we could already see the broad back of the Seated Man dominating the horizon.

Turning into the Westerdale road

An easy climb through heather

Approaching the Seated Man

The Seated Man looks over Westerdale

We walked round it and tapped it, it is bronze and beautifully painted.  Google tells me that the statue is about 3 metres high and was made by the artist Sean Henry after being commissioned by the Davis Ross Foundation.  It will remain in situ for five years.

Mr Ross actually lives in Westerdale and it would be interesting to know if the statue looks like him? Perhaps it would be a bit egotistical to have one's likeness gazing down onto the neighbours!

Amazing detail

Clive admires the Seated Man

Is the artist a Corbynista?

Castleton below

The path from the Seated Man to the Castleton road has been well worn by visitors and is an easy descent.  On rejoining the tarmac we followed the grass verge until joining a green lane to our right which runs parallel to the road, only rejoining it as we reached our car park.

Castleton from the road

A short drive into Castleton took us to the Eskdale Hotel where we discussed the Seated Man and today's walk over a pint of Black Sheep.

This is an interesting and easy walk with plenty to see.