10 miles Warm and humid
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.
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| Today's walk from The Walker's Guide to the Hambleton Hills |
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| Helmsley Butchers |
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| Cottages in Helmsley |
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| Turn into Sawmill Lane.... |
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| ... and join the Ebor Way |
Sawmill Lane took us through an industrial estate with its working sawmill and then, following signs for the Ebor Way, we walked into fields leaving the town behind.
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| "How many fingers am I holding up?" |
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. We were soon walking through waist high undergrowth, principally nettles and Himalyan Balsam.
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| Over the stile next to the sewerage works |
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| Himalayan Balsam |
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 we saw a footpath sign and stile on our right which turned us back into fields. For the last couple of years a notice at this point informed us the path was closed because of damage to a bridge. The sign has gone so presuming the bridge to have finally been repaired we set off over the fields.
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| Reaching the Ox Bow |
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| Through the gate and under the bridge to see... |
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| ... rare kneeling sheep |
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| Clive explains they don't have to kneel down to reach the grass.. |
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| Impressive reconditioned Massey Ferguson |
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| This path used to be closed |
The path has obviously been walked but when we reached the bridge we found it in the same slightly damaged state as before but perfectly safe to cross. A notice on the next stile informed us that the footpath would remain closed for another two days.
We crossed the bridge into Harome and walked round the village before enjoying morning coffee and scones al fresco in the grounds of the Pheasant Hotel.
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| Not repaired |
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| The red line shows our route to Harome! |
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| A full scale |
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| The Star at Harome |
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| Straw cat on The Star |
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| Whale weather vane at Harome |
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| Stone Buddha near The Star |
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| The Pheasant Hotel weather vane |
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| Elevenses |
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| Smug |
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.
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.
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| Cottages in Harome |
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| Harome Mill |
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| Hall Lane |
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| Railway Cottages at Harome Siding |
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| Two buzzards pass overhead |
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| Welcome to the River Rye |
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 Tom Scott Burns 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 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!
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| Over the river |
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| Following the river on the other bank |
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| East Newton Hall |
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| Mole trap markers all along Lack Lane |
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| Fancy stone walling near East Newton Hall |
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| Join the B1257 to Nunnington road just past (spelled differently!) Losky Farm |
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. It is necessary to follow the grass verge of the busy road for about a mile, passing by Leyshorpe Hall and Birch Hall Farm as cars whiz by. This is 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.
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| Cut across the field to the B1257 |
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| Leysthorpe Hall |
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| The grass verge was wick with grasshoppers |
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| We leave the road at last |
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| Back on the Ebor Way |
We now followed field paths all the way to Sproxton but before reaching the village we decided to stop at a convenient bench for our 'official' scone and coffee break.
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| Path to Sproxton |
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| Coffee |
Pressing on we followed field paths to the outskirts of Sproxton whose long high street would lead us back to the B1257 and the small church of St Chads.
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| Weather vane in Sproxton |
We re-joined the Ebor Way path at the signpost just past Sproxton Hall Farm.
From here to the river our path through fields appeared unwalked and it was necessary to navigate by searching ahead for yellow way-signs.
Reaching the river near to an arched bridge that would take us to a fish farm, we turned left before the bridge to follow the river bank.
We now followed the river back towards Helmsley but 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.
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| We pass Ness Great Wood |
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| Low Parks Farm |
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| "I'll 'ave you both!" Beligerent ram at Low Cross Farm |
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| Set-aside in flower |
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| Fish Farm footbridge |
Reaching the river near to an arched bridge that would take us to a fish farm, we turned left before the bridge to follow the river bank.
We now followed the river back towards Helmsley but 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.
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| Following the river |
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| Careful Clive, that looks like a cornice! |
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| In some places there was so little water one could cross from one bank to the other on foot |
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| Leaving the Himalayan Balsam and the rooftops of Helmsley appear |
Soon we left the trees of the river bank and emerged into a sheep field which we crossed to reach the old stone bridge.
We walked into Helmsley then noticed that Helmsley Brewery was open to visitors from 2pm to 9pm and decided to pop inside. We were soon established in their beer garden where we could enjoy a pint of Striding the Riding while discussing a fine day's walk.
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| Over the bridge.. |
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| ... and into the brewery |
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| What shall we have today? |
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| Hiker's reward |
