Walking in North Yorkshire

Helmsley to Harome and Sproxton

10 miles Warm and sunny

A lovely day for one of our favourite walks. We parked at the side of the road where it enters Helmsley and walked down through the market place and just before Rye Bridge veered left into Ryegate, then right into Sawmill Lane. There are signs here for the Ebor Way, which we follow for a while.

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

Walking through Helmsley

The Market Square

Sawmill Lane took us past an industrial estate and then, following a sign for the Ebor Way, we walked into fields leaving the town behind.

We were soon walking alongside the River Rye; on reaching the sewerage works the path becomes a very narrow space between the fence and the river.

Field path at first

Cross stile to narrow path at side of Sewage Works

Walking alongside the River Rye

Plenty of wild Garlic in flower

The weather was perfect for walking and reaching an ox-bow in the river we watched sand martins swooping in and out of holes along the sandy bank.

Walking along watching Sand Martins

A Tortoiseshell Butterfly on our path

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 crossed a sheep field to the road which we followed towards Harome. As we approached the village a signpost turned us back into fields but a notice informed us the path was closed because of damage to a bridge. This path has been closed for two years now because of damage that should be simple to repair. Oh well, back to the road taking us into Harome, past The Star Inn where a thatcher was repairing the thatched roof of the pub. Rather incongrously, in a private garden opposite the pub stands a huge stone Buddha.

We passed by and reached The Pheasant where we stopped for coffee, and were also given pastries presumably left from breakfast. We sat outside overlooking the village duck pond and enjoyed the treat.

Tarmac to Harome

Bullocks rush over the field to greet us

Our field path is (still!) closed to us

Entering Harome

We stop to watch a thatcher at work

We could watch someone working for hours...

The Big Buddha

The Pheasant...

.. and coffee, pastries almost gone.

Whale weather vane in Harome

Reluctantly we left The Pheasant and walked through picturesque Harome, past the duckpond and some interesting cottages including Harome Mill and Aby Green Farm We soon reached Hall Lane passing by the old railway cottages, now private houses.

Hall Lane becomes a farm track and returns to the river once more.

Cottages in Harome

The Old Mill, Harome

Railway house, the old line ran through the gate

Hall Lane becomes a track

We reach the river once more

We walked alongside 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 leads to East Newton Hall and Loschy Farm.

We were filled with admiration for the dry stone walling at East Newton Hall. To the left of the building, 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!

Crossing the river

East Newton Hall

Beatutiful dry stone walling

Losky Farm spelt differently to Loschy Wood

Just past Losky Farm there is a footpath sign pointing across fields where a path is clearly deliniated and we took this, soon reaching the busy B1257.

This next stretch is the worst part of today's walk. We had to follow the grass verge of the busy road for about a mile, passing by Leyshorpe Hall and Birch Hall Farm. This was not a very pleasant experience.

Eventually, opposite a sign pointing to Oswaldkirk village, we turned right into a farm lane and started to descend in the general direction of Sproxton; the footpath sign telling us we were now back on the Ebor Way.

Follow the sign...

..across fields to ...

... the B1257

Back on the Ebor Way

Potato crop and limestone pieces somehow sorted to edge of field

We now followed field paths all the way to Sproxton but before reaching the village we decided to stop for our 'official' scone and coffee break.

Pressing on we followed field paths to the outskirts of Sproxton whose long high street leads back to the B1257 and the small church of St Chads.

Nissen Hut, village hall at Sproxton dated 1948

Cottage in Sproxton

Painted weather vane at Sproxton

Tiny St Chad's Church

TSB says rood screen carvings are from Germany....

... and the stained glass window contains fifteenth century glass from Helmsley

We returned through Sproxton to re-join the Ebor Way path at the signpost just past Sproxton Hall Farm.

From here to the river our path through fields appeared little walked and it was necessary to navigate by searching ahead for yellow way-signs.

Keep an eye out for way marks!

Useful bench for coffee, near Sproxton

Eventually we reached the River Rye and a large footbridge, but instead of crossing we turned left to return along the opposite bank to our outward path.

Don't cross, turn left along river bank

... through sheep fields

... and meadows full of wild flowers

The River Rye

We followed the river back towards Helmsley on the opposite bank to our outward path. The path becomes ever narrower and at one point needs negotiating with care as it would be easy to slip into the water.