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.
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Today's walk from The Walker's Guide to the Hambleton Hills |
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We wondered why this plaque to a young'stranger' to the village was installed into the church floor |
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Affliction sore long time I bore, physicians skill were vain, I dying left my husband dear, for God to be his guide
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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.
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The church gate leads us towards the bridge |
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Heavy overnight rain has left roads and paths waterlogged |
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The River Rye from Church Bridge |
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After crossing the bridge turn left onto track |
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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.
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Starting to climb Coomb Hill |
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Through the gate and turn right uphill |
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Looking back towards Church Bridge |
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What's that? |
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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'.
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Stoney Gill Hole |
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We see Arden Hall rooftops |
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Not sure what breed of sheep (Leicesters?) these are at Arden Hall |
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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.
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We climb past the snow line |
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The gamekeeper passes as we enjoy coffee and scones |
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Turn left off the track at the way- mark post |
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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.
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Crossing Dale Town Common |
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The wall and fence to our left make a good landmark |
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Sheep in the turnip field |
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New Tank |
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Old tank in 2018 |
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Turn left through the gate and follow the fence |
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Follow the old wall..... |
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... 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.
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Hawnby Hill and Easterside Hill appear in the distance |
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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.
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Turn left at Sunnybank Farm... |
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... to follow the path down to the River Rye |
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Cross the stile... |
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... 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.
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Hungry geese |
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A 'new' addition |
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Two old tractors in the shed |
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'Just a bit of bread....?' |
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New timber on Dalicar Bridge |
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Hawnby |
A short drive took us to the Lords Stone Cafe where we drank a pint of Black Sheep and discussed today's short but enjoyable walk.