Walking in North Yorkshire

6 miles Chilly with wintry showers

We decided on a short walk owing to today's wintry conditions and we haven't done this Tom Scott Burns' walk since autumn 2018.

TSB suggests parking on the grass verge in front of the church at Hawnby but in bad weather this carries a risk of getting bogged down so we parked at the village hall and walked back to the church, adding a mile to TSB's 5 mile walk description.

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

We walked along the snowdrop lined lane to reach All Saints Church which is practically invisible among trees until you are almost on top of it. The church graveyard had an even better display of snowdrops which we paused to admire before entering the unlocked church.

Pheasants galore and the shooting season is over

All Saints Church at Hawnby

Cheerful display of snowdrops

TSB explains that the church is basically a Norman structure, rebuilt in the late 14th century and restored in 1876 at a cost of £600, raised by subscription. The small parish of Hawnby suffered the terrible loss of 45 men in WWI and two windows commemorate that loss.

Tragedy: This window is dedicated to the three sons of William Hughes, the Rector of Hawnby, who were killed in action in 1917 and 1918

WWI window

The Rev Hughes at the window dedication

We wondered why this plaque to a young'stranger' to the village was installed into the church floor

Affliction sore long time I bore, physicians skill were vain, I dying left my husband dear, for God to be his guide

We left the church and walked down to Church Bridge then immediately after crossing this we turned sharp left, then right at an Inn Way sign and began our climb to Coomb Hill.

The church gate leads us towards the bridge

Heavy overnight rain has left roads and paths waterlogged

The River Rye from Church Bridge

After crossing the bridge turn left onto track

Follow the Inn Way

After crossing a field we started to climb Coomb Hill where we saw a dead deer in the trees to our right. There was no sign of injury and we presumed it had simply sickened and died. As we looked at the deer we saw a group of six or more run off about a hundred yards away, the trees making a photograph impossible.

Starting to climb Coomb Hill

Through the gate and turn right uphill

Looking back towards Church Bridge

What's that?

Dead deer

Having gained height we circumnavigated the hill, passing the ruins of two old buildings and eventually dropping down to rejoin the same tarmac road we had left at Church Bridge.

We walked along the road to reach Arden Hall, passing what TSB describes as 'the small but eerie ravine of Stoney Gill Hole'.

Stoney Gill Hole

We see Arden Hall rooftops

Not sure what breed of sheep (Leicesters?) these are at Arden Hall

We pass the front of Arden Hall

After passing the front of Arden Hall the road becomes a rough track and climbs steeply and we soon found we were walking in snow. As we continued to make height visibility deteriorated and we decided to have a break before reaching the open moor. We found a fallen tree in a sheltered spot and sat to enjoy our coffee and scones.

Setting off again we walked past an old quarry and turned left off the track at a way-mark sign to climb to Dale Town Common. Here we should have had a view of Thorodale Lake below but we could see nothing in the mist.

We climb past the snow line

The gamekeeper passes as we enjoy coffee and scones

Turn left off the track at the way- mark post

Poor visibility on Dale Town Common

Crossing the common to pass through a gate we came to a dyke that follows the line of a dry stone wall to the right, and in the poor visibilty we were glad to follow this wall. Apparently the dyke dates from the late Bronze Age, 900 - 600BC, and it is thought that it and other similar dykes were constructed to define the limits of farming settlements.

Shortly after passing a new plastic water tank we turned through a gate and walked across fields for a mile or so until we reached a barn where cattle were over-wintering.

Crossing Dale Town Common

The wall and fence to our left make a good landmark

Sheep in the turnip field

New Tank

Old tank in 2018

Turn left through the gate and follow the fence

Follow the old wall.....

... to reach a barn where cattle over-winter

Just past the barn our path went through an area of tumuli and TSB explains that before the moorland was enclosed there was a group of about 20 tumuli here, only about 7 or 8 now remain. During the 1850s some excavation work was carried out and in one large mound, 40 - 50 feet diameter and 4 feet high, the skeleton of an Anglo Saxon lady of rank was found preserved in the limestone. At her head was a bronze bowl with three handles, round her waist a leather girdle inlaid with garnets and her hair was secured with gold and silver.

Hawnby Hill and Easterside Hill appear in the distance

Ancient earthworks

Our route now headed towards the perimeter of North Bank Wood before turning sharp left downhill at a sign just before Sunnybank Farm. There was now a steep and occasionally tricky descent back down to the River Rye.

Turn left at Sunnybank Farm...

... to follow the path down to the River Rye

Cross the stile...

... and descend steeply following the yellow way-marks

As we entered a field with Dalicar Bridge over the river ahead of us three wild geese came towards us. Although wary they gave the impression they expected food and we wondered if they had been hand reared.

In the corner of the field is an old shed which in previous years contained two elderly tractors. They now appeared to have been joined by another which Clive noticed had new engine parts. It would appear that a tractor enthusiast is collecting the old machines. We stopped to admire them before crossing the bridge to reach the tarmac road back to Hawnby.