Walking in North Yorkshire

Helmsley to Harome and Sproxton

10 miles Wet and warm

We wanted to do a longer walk even though the weather forecast promised rain. In the end we stayed dry until about 1.30pm - but then we got very wet!

We drove to Helmsley on the B1257 and parked at the side of the road as we entered the town.

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

Helmsley Castle

Weather Vane on Helmsley Town Hall

We walked through the market place, turned left onto Ryegate and right into Sawmill Lane, where we saw signs for the Ebor Way. We passed by several industrial units including a saw mill before entering a field containing sheep. We crossed the field still following the Ebor Way signs.

Unusual plant pots on Sawmill Lane

It's the time of year for cute lamb photos

An 'Extra High' lamb

We soon reached the River Rye where our path followed the river downstream. There was wild garlic flowering all around and the aroma of garlic was overpowering.

We passed to the side of the sewerage works and soon reached an old railway bridge which we passed under into more sheep fields.

Walking beside the River Rye

Take the stile next to the sewerage works

Phew! Garlic

Through the gate and under the bridge

We walked through a mixture of breeds of sheep and lambs, our favourites being the teddy bear-like Southdown Sheep and unfortunately saw a dead ewe near to the field exit to the road. We suspected the farmer must have dragged the sheep to this spot awaiting the knackers' van.

This sheep had managed to get a piece of barbed wire hooked to its coat - no chance of getting near enough to remove it

Southdown sheep

"Yes, we're very cute aren't we?"

Looks like trouble!

A sad sight

We walked along the road towards Harome, leaving the road into fields just before a bridge. We walked towards the village and reached the wooden bridge, famous in our family for cracking my wife's ribs when she slipped on the greasy timber, only to find the bridge had been blocked off. We needed to cross here and climbed over the wooden barrier, perhaps it has been erected to stop stock wandering? The sign outside The Pheasant said they were open for morning coffee so we decided to ask them about the bridge but they were unaware of it. Still, we were in the pub now so we might as well sample their coffee and scones. It was warm enough to sit outside on the terrace to enjoy them.

We need to be over there!

The Pheasant - morning coffee

1960s Aston Martin at The Pheasant

Elevenses

Cream scones and coffee to prepare us for the next few miles

We left the Pheasant and walked out of Harome past some quaint thatched cottages and Harome Mill, where we saw peacocks in the yard. Clive's impressive 'peacock screech' got a male bird screeching back, circling with tail up and tail feathers shaking. We amused ourselves thus for a few minutes before setting off once more to reach Hall Lane.

Cottages in Harome

Harome Mill

Peacock responds to Clive's call...

.. or maybe it's for the peahen on the right!

Hall Lane changes from tarmac to grass and led us down to Harome Siding where we passed by the old railway line and houses.

Old railway track

We now had a nice walk along a green way until we reached the River Rye once more, and crossing at a footbridge followed the river through trees. We were pleased to see what we believed to be a short eared owl in the branches, staring intently at us. I got a quick photo and then as we tried to move nearer it was off, swooping through the trees!

Lovely green lane

We reach the river once more

"The Bridge over the River Rye"

What's that??

Owl

A little further and we joined Lack Lane which leads 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 terrorising 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 themselves 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 did and you can see it here.

East Newton Hall

Nice new dry stone walling at East Newton Hall

Losky Farm with Loschy Hill behind

Passing by Losky Farm we ignored the sign pointing our way across a field of barley, a short cut which would bring us out onto the B1257. It was now raining heavily and we didn't fancy trudging through the wet barley. Instead we stuck to the roads and reaching the B1257 we walked the verge for nearly a mile along this busy road, passing Leysthorpe Hall and the smart newer build of Birch Farm. Eventually we came to the turn off left for Oswaldkirk where we turned right opposite, to enter a lane to West Newton Grange.

Entering the lane to West Newton Grange

We're back on the Ebor Way!

We now followed a series of winding paths until we entered Sproxton after passing the farm called Sproxton Hall. On our right was an old nissen hut which was the village hall. It was raining very heavily now and we were looking for somewhere sheltered to stop and enjoy our coffee and the covered entrance to Sproxton Village Hall looked ideal. We spread our mats and sat in the dry to enjoy coffee and our second scone of the day.

Through fields towards Sproxton

Sproxton Hall Farm

The deep doorway of Sproxton Village Hall

We retraced our steps through the village to Sproxton Hall Farm where we turned left across fields past Low Parks Farm, our path eventually reaching an arched bridge over the River Rye. We didn't cross the bridge however, turning left instead to follow the river upstream.

Very wet, but still beautiful

She looks wetter than us!

River Rye

We ignored this bridge over the Rye and stayed on this bank

We followed the river back towards Helmsley at one point coming to a large ox-bow where concrete blocks had been strategically placed to catch flood flotsam before it reached power lines.

You can't have too many photos of lambs, can you?

Flood defences

Same spot in February 2016

As we neared Helmsley the path moves nearer to the river bank and becomes quite tricky in places. Once again we entered groves of wild garlic with masses of white flowers and heady aroma.

"Can you smell garlic?"

The last mile along the river bank

Negotiating a tricky bit

Eventually we passed though a gate and into a sheep field which we crossed to reach the road at the bridge in Helmsley. A walk through the town brought us back to our car.