Helmsley to Harome and Sproxton

10 miles                         Fine weather

We drove to Helmsley from Stokesley on the B1257 and parked at the side of the road where it enters Helmsley.  We then walked down through the market place and on to Rye Bridge where we veered left into Ryegate, then right into Sawmill Lane.

Today's walk from The Walker's Guide to the Hambleton Hills

Walking through Helmsley

Walking through Helmsley

Sign in Sawmill Lane

Walking past the sawmill we came to a paddock and a very strange sight, a horse that appeared to have a hood totally covering its head and ears with no eye-holes.  When the horse stood and faced us we could see that it had eyes painted on the hood but it obviously couldn't see.  Was it blind?   
(see here for explanation -   thanks Paul)

Ok, what's going on here?!

Horace the Horse

The traffic noise had disappeared to be replaced by the very pleasant sound of the river alongside us as we followed it downstream.   We came to a bend in the river and noticed a strange collection of concrete pedestals looking for all the world like an ancient stone circle. Tom Scott Burns explains they are sited to prevent sections of timber damaging power line poles when the river is in spate but we couldn't see how this would work.

We follow the Ebor Way along the River Rye

Not a Druid Circle

We left the river by turning under an old railway bridge that was once part of the York to Pickering railway, closed by Beeching in 1964.  We turned right under the bridge onto a road which we followed towards Harome.  As we approached the village a signpost turned us back into fields before we swung left across a wooden bridge, where my wife once slipped on wet wood and cracked a rib, and on into Harome.  Almost immediately we noticed a sign outside The Pheasant Hotel saying 'Morning Coffee' and as it was indeed morning and we both fancied coffee we entered and enjoyed not just coffee but also scones with clotted cream and jam.

Leaving the River Rye via the railway bridge

A wooden bridge with a history for the Fosters

"Shall I be mother?"

Weathervane at The Pheasant

We walked through Harome, past the duckpond and some interesting cottages including Harome Mill, where a pea-hen watched us pass by, and Aby Green Farm where Clive petted some hand reared lambs, soon reaching Hall Lane.

Cottage in Harome

Harome Mill

Pet lambs

Hall Lane

We followed Hall Lane until we re-joined the River Rye and then crossed it by a footbridge a short distance from Hall Lane end.  A little further and we joined Lack Lane which led to East Newton Hall and Loschy Farm.  To the left, on a hill, is Loschy Wood and TSB relates that long ago a dragon lived on Loschy Hill and terrorised the villagers.  A local man called Peter Loschy had a special suit of armour made covered with sharp blades and went with his dog to confront the dragon.  It wrapped itself around Peter and the blades sliced it so portions of the dragon fell to the ground. The pieces tried to reassemble the dragon so the trusty dog carried the segments of dragon and buried them on the hill. Peter stooped to praise his dog which licked him on the face but as the dragon's blood was poisonous he and the dog both fell down dead.  They were buried at Nunnington Church, the dog at Peter's feet.  TSB says unbelievers can visit the church and see for themselves; well Clive and I hope to do just that in a week or two, so watch this space! 

Hall Lane becomes a green lane

We rejoin the River Rye...

and cross it via a renovated bridge.  Clives checks the craftsmanship

Loschy Hill

East Newton Hall

We passed by the entrance to Loschy Farm where we noticed mole traps along the grass verge, and came to the busy B1257 which we had to walk alongside for about a mile, passing by Leyshorpe Hall.

Mole traps make more mess than the moles

Losky Farm, note the change in spelling

Rape seed oil crop from the B1257

Footpath off the B1257

Leysthorpe Hall

Looking south from the B1257

Back on the Ebor Way

Walking towards Sproxton

Bluebells at Bell Plantation

Green Sykes

As we passed Bell Plantation we entered a field with young bullocks who came running over to have a look at us.  We stood our ground (just in front of an electric fence that we could easily jump if necessary) and the cattle came to a halt.  Having experience of similar Mexican stand-offs on previous walks we shouted and clapped our hands and the bullocks high-tailed it, allowing us to hurry across their field.

Mexican stand-off

High-tailing it

We walked through a couple more pastures and came to the below sign showing us that we should turn sharp right to continue our walk.  The sign also pointed to Sproxton and although not part of our walk TSB recommends walking through the village to the church situated at its furthest point.  

We decide to visit Sproxton

We walked on towards Sproxton and as we approached Sproxton Hall Farm we heard the unmistakable alarm calls of Guinea fowl who had obviously seen us.  We spotted them in the fields and around the buildings of Sproxton Hall and were sorry to see a dead bird next to the fence.  There was no sign of predation and the only unusual thing was a scattering of feathers.  Clive suggested that the bird may have become stuck in the fence and 'panicked to death'.  

Who killed the Guinea fowl?

Entering Sproxton we passed an old Nissen Hut with a sign saying "Sproxton Village Hall 1948".  The village was attractive with the light coloured limestone houses looking much newer than they actually are. Eventually we reached the junction with the B1257 where we found the tiny restored church of St Chads and nearby, a bench where we sat and enjoyed the second scone and coffee break of the walk!

'Pigs might fly' on a house in Sproxton

Sproxton

Painted weathervane in Sproxton

St Chads was unlocked so we entered for a look around.  TSB mentions that the stained glass window contains fifteenth century glass from Helmsley and has rood screen carvings from Germany.

St Chads, Sproxton

Fifteenth Century glass from Helmsley

Tiny church of St Chads

Rood Screen from Germany

Beautiful painted ceiling in St Chads

We walked back through the village to the signpost at Sproxton Hall from where we followed the Ebor Way path towards Helmsley across a couple of fields to reach a large bridge over the River Rye. Our path swerved left here, before the river, but we wanted to have a look at the fish farm on the far bank so crossed the bridge.

The Ebor Way

The Bridge over the River Rye (was that a film?)

The fish farm was larger than we expected and we could see the fish, trout we thought, seething in the ponds below.  Further along a man was lifting nets full of fish from one reservoir to another.

Part of the fish farm

Moving fish on from one reservoir to the next

Our curiosity satisfied we returned to the path and retraced our earlier tracks alongside the disused railway back to Helmsley and our car. 

Back to Helmsley

The market square at Helmsley

For some reason this was the first time we had walked this route from Tom Scott Burns's book but we enjoyed it very much and will no doubt return to do it again! 

Ladhill Gill and Bumper Castle from 

Fangdale Beck

7.5 miles                             Cool with April showers

We turned off the B1257 Bilsdale Road and drove past an old green telephone kiosk to the village of Fangdale Beck where we parked at the roadside.  Tom Scott Burns tells us that Fangdale comes from the personal Scandinavian name Fangi or Fangulf, giving 'Fangi's Valley'.   Leaving the car we crossed the beck by the little bridge and walked past the old Wesleyan Chapel, now converted into a private house.

Today's walk from the Walker's Guide to the Cleveland Hills

Converted chapel

Looking back at Fangdale from Malkin Bower

A walk along a farm track brought us to a farm called Malkin Bower, which apparently means Matilda's or Maud's Dwelling.  Opposite the farmhouse was a barn containing sheep and newly born lambs, all looking very comfortable.

Malkin Bower

Dog weathervane at Malkin Bower

New lambs

"I'll just have that bit on the very top.."

Once past the farm the tarmac vanished and we followed the path along the valley of Bilsdale, parallel to the road below us.  The track dropped down to the River Seph before climbing gently up to Helm House where we admired a couple of very old tractors and a road roller, all gently decaying but ripe for renovation.

Today's walk is little used and we relied on way-marks rather than paths

Old tractor...

and roller at Helm Farm

Leaving the farm we crossed several sheep fields until we approached a gate just before a forest plantation.  We could see a sheep and lambs at the gate but as we approached it became apparent that a tragedy had occurred and the lambs were now orphans.  We looked round but there was no sign of anyone to tell, and we watched as the lambs ran to other sheep who gently butted them away.  There was nothing for it but to return to Helm Farm which, including a return to this spot, would add another 1.5 miles to our walk.  At Helm House we reported the fallen sheep to the farmer who said he would sort it out straight away.

Leaving Helm House

Fine Hawthorn Blossom

Hmm, this looks like trouble!

A sad sight

Hungry orphans

Back to Helm House!

Passing by the orphans once more and reassured to think that help was on the way, we started the half mile climb of Benhill Bank at the top of which we turned sharp right onto tarmac.  After a couple of hundred yards our track bore left off the tarmac across fields and we continued to climb onto the moor.

Benhill Bank

This guy watched us walk by just two feet away but couldn't be bothered to fly off

Clive (and lamb) watch in amazement as fearless pheasant struts away

Our first sight of Easterside Hill from Benhill Bank

We reach the moor gate

The last gate took us to the moor edge where the path became more distinct.  Looking down to our right we saw the ruins of Bumper Castle behind a grove of trees and difficult to get to from our position.  TSB tells us that the castle was at one time part of the estate of the Duke of Buckingham and also that the monks of Rievaulx once wrought iron on Bumper Moor.  We met another track leading straight down to the valley bottom and Ladhill Gill.  Reaching the stream we sat on some convenient rocks for our usual coffee and scones, sitting for a few minutes in sunshine before black clouds approached and hail bounced off us, splashing in our coffee.

There was no obvious path across the moor

The remains of Bumper Castle

Looking across at Sportsmans Hall

Heading down to the river, Sportsmans Hall opposite

Gated bridge over Ladhill Gill

Ladhill Gill from our coffee stop

A stiff climb took us up to Sportsmans Hall which TSB suspects is so called because of a past link to the sporting activities of Bumper Castle, but the Hall now appears to be a working farm.  Our path skirted above the Hall and we reached a tarmac road, turning right at the Moor Gate to walk to the information board and car park at Arden Moor.

Stiff climb from Ladhill Gill

Looking across at Shaw Side, boulders on the slope glistening in the sun

Entering Arden Moor

We turned right at the information board and walked along the vehicle track for a mile or so until we took a right fork to walk back down towards Wetherhouse Beck. At this point we met a couple of hikers and stopped for ten minutes to chat about our respective walks.  Walking on, we left all signs of designated footpath behind and crossed a large boggy area always looking out for the occasional yellow way-mark until we crossed Wetherhouse Beck and climbed across rough ground. We reached a drystone wall which we followed until we gained the moor top.  

Loking back to Easterside Hill and Hawnby Hill

Bear right at the fork

We meet a couple of hikers, a spinone and a border terrier

The shepherd passes, his crook in a neat holster attachment

As we crossed this moor we saw the remains of a pigeon, both legs ringed, which had obviously been struck by a hawk.  Clive, a pigeon fancier, explained that the code on the red ring showed the bird was from the North West and the blue ring contained a chip that would activate a timer when the bird returned, showing its race time.  The red ring showed 2015 and the season only started a couple of weeks ago so Clive took the rings to inform the owner of the bird's fate. 

Our path turns onto open moor

Once a racing pigeon

From the moor top we looked down into Bilsdale and the village of Fangdale.  Our path passed through a gate and then went steeply downhill by some old quarry workings, eventually emerging at Malkin Bower Farm where we turned left to walk back to our start point in Fangdale. 

Crossing open moor

Down past old quarries

The path leads directly to Malkin Bower

Fangdale

Entering Fangdale

No Walk this week - Chillin' in Tenerife