Caydale and Noddle End from Murton
7.5 miles Hot and sunny
We took the Hawnby turn-off from the B1257 Stokesley to Helmsley road and parked on the verge near to the white buildings of Murton Grange.
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| Today's walk from The Walker's Guide to the Hambleton Hills |
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| Murton Grange |
Tom Scott Burns explains that a 'grange' was a farmhouse attached to a religious order and Murton Grange once belonged to the monks of nearby Byland Abbey.
We set off up the tarmac lane alongside Murton Grange. We came to a fork, the main lane going on to Caydale Mill, but we went straight ahead here and down into the hidden valley of Caydale. Tom Scott Burns tells us that at this spot the last wild cat in England was shot in 1840, by a Charles Harrison.
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| Tarmac lane alongside Murton Grange |
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| At the fork bear right through the gate |
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| Caydale |
Walking above Caydale we ignored the first track to the left and took the second, which leads to the beck at the bottom of the valley. We crossed it and started the long climb up the other side, passing the location of the 'Captain's Seat' shown on the map above. Unfortunately this area was cleared of trees last year and in the process the the remains of the Captain's Seat were also destroyed.
Who the captain was and why he sat at this remote spot, I have been unable to discover despite Google searches, but in the 1740s at this location a Joseph Ford of Kirbymoorside perfected a system of tapping into springs and channeling water in open 'rills' some 12 inches wide. Water was diverted by this method through Caydale from King Spring to the village of Old Byland. Perhaps the original memorial seat goes back to those days, who knows.
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| Crossing Caydale |
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| Climbing out, roughly where the Captain's Seat is shown on the map |
Leaving the climb and Caydale we crossed several fields to reach the tarmac of High Leir Lane where we turned right and walked through humid heat to pass Weathercote Farm with its novel 'cat and rat' weather vane.
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| High Leir Lane |
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| We all admire the new stone walling |
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| Mixed potato crops in flower |
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| Weathercote Farm |
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| Rosebay Willow Herb in flower along High Lear Lane |
We have seen yellowhammers in High Lear Lane in previous years and today we were fortunate to see one that allowed me to come within a few feet with my camera. Listed as endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species it's one of farmland's most cheerful looking birds and it makes my day to see one.
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| On tarmac for a mile |
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| Yellowhammer |
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| Tow plane and glider pass overhead |
Turning right we were now following the Cleveland Way along Boltby Scar, past the old quarry workings and the ruins of High Barn, briefly crossing the tarmac of Sneck Yate Bank and on through the trees of Boltby plantation to reach High Paradise Farm and its tea room. Here we stopped for a leisurely coffee and cake.
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| Through Boltby Forest ... |
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| ... to High Paradise Farm |
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| Tea room at High Paradise |
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| Hungry hikers |
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Begging rooster at High Paradise
Although a bit awkward to reach for motor traffic, High Paradise is a little oasis for cyclists and walkers and we found the coffee and scones to be superb.
While we sat in the sun I fiddled with my camera and knocked the ISO setting to 25000 instead of 100, so poor quality photos from here on!
Much refreshed, we continued past the farm to reach Sneck Gate and the old Drovers' Road, which we crossed into Daletown Common, eventually reaching the barn at Noddle End.
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| On Daletown Common |
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| Ruins at Noddle End |
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| Leave Daletown Common through the gate |
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| Starting down into Gowerdale |
We paused at Noddle End to look down into Gowerdale. The view from this spot is stunning and we gazed at the ruined building of Gowerdale House before starting our descent.
A steep downhill path reaches the solitary and deserted buildings of Gowerdale House. This area is the site of what was once a medieval village, long since abandoned and TSB speculates whether this resulted from the Black Death visiting this secluded valley.
We walked in front of the house which has the unfriendly message, "Look around and get out!" painted on the front door, and followed a rising path through the yard of Dale Town Farm.
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| Gazing down at Gowerdale House |
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| Once a thriving village, now deserted |
We walked straight uphill from the farm, turning left along Peak Scar Top and soon reaching Murton Bank Road and our car.
In the past we would have retired to the Inn at Hawnby for a cooling pint but sadly the Inn has closed and we had to drive a little further, to the Buck at Chop Gate, where we relaxed in the sun and discussed today's walk.
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| Daletown Farm |
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| Looking down at Daletown Farm, Hawnby Hill and Easterside Hill in the background |
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| The end of the walk |
