6 miles Fine and sunny
My second walk in three days and with Clive having just returned from London we decided on this shorter walk from Tom Scott Burns' 'The Walker's Guide to the Cleveland Hills'.
There is ample parking at The Lord Stones Cafe and we would repay the favour with our custom at the end of the walk.
Today's walk from The Walker's Guide to the Cleveland Hills
The Lord Stones Cafe
In his walker's guide Tom Scott Burns explains that the Lord Stones Cafe takes its name from the Three Lords' Stones tumulus which is situated immediately behind the cafe. This modern name for the tumulus derives from the three estate boundaries held by the local land owning lords: Helmsley, Busby and Whorlton, which meet here. The present owners have placed a few 'faux Lord stones' on the green ridge north of the cafe and we walked over to have a look at them, passing a memorial plaque to the founder of the Samaritan Way as we did so.
The Samaritan Way is a tough 40 mile walk around these hills. See here
Lord Stones
Seat with a view
Zoom view towards Roseberry Topping from the stone seat
We returned to our path and the long climb to the top of Cringle Moor, where we paused at Falconer's Seat, a stone memorial to Alex Falconer who wrote the Rambler column in the Evening Gazette in the 1950s and 60s.
If you hear a bird singing at this time of year you will probably be hearing a robin. We stood for a few minutes listening as this chap serenaded us.
Climbing to Cringle Moor
Arriving at Falconer's Seat
A fine view from Falconer's Seat
There's a great view from this spot and the memorial's plaque points out all the surrounding features.
Leaving the memorial we walked on and after about 100 yards looked down onto a rock face where long ago, in more literate times, someone carved 'Tempus exploro omnis negotium'. TSB says this roughly translates as "I'll try anything once and everything in time." but Google translates it as "Time solves all problems", which sounds more likely, though not as much fun.
'Tempus exploro omnis negotium'
We walked east across the ridge and then negotiated the steep descent from Cringle Moor (from Cranimoor - circular moor) and reached the old stone remains of Donna Cross at the side of our path.
Our path lies ahead
Great Broughton in the foreground
A superb ridge walk
Descending from Cringle Moor
The remains of the Donna Cross
The Donna Cross was probably a wayside cross marking the descent down from the moor towards Kirby. The E carved on it stands for the Emmerson Family of Easby Hall and the F on the other side for Feversham of Duncombe Park suggests that it was also a boundary stone.
We followed the wooden Cleveland Way direction post to a ridiculously placed road traffic sign where we passed through the gate and turned to walk towards Beak Hills, leaving the Cleveland Way behind.
Sheep at Beak Hills Farm
Initially there is no path but having crossed a field we passed through a gate and joined a farm track that changes from grass to stone as one progresses and eventually becomes tarmac.
TSB says this was an ancient pannier-man's trod, along which lime, fish, salt, jet and alum were once transported. It now joins the farms of Beak Hills, Cold Moor Cote and Stone Intake to the Chop Gate to Carlton road.
TSB says this was an ancient pannier-man's trod, along which lime, fish, salt, jet and alum were once transported. It now joins the farms of Beak Hills, Cold Moor Cote and Stone Intake to the Chop Gate to Carlton road.
Ancient pannierman's trod
Pheasants take to the air. Today is the first day of pheasant shooting season, 1st Oct
A partridge peers round the gatepost - "It's from 1st September for me mate!"
There were several horses grazing here, one of which decided to investigate us but fortunately after a bit of fuss rejoined his pals.
We are met at the gate!
We decide to give way
"Got any apples?"
Passing Cold Moor Cote Farm we paused to admire their hardy Galloway cattle before continuing along the road to turn off at a stile just before Stone Intake Farm.
The valley of Raisdale to our right
Cold Moor Cote Farm
A mix of traditional and White Galloway cattle at Cold Moor Cote Farm
Reaching Stone Intake Farm we turned right into a field at a stile just before the farm buildings, and descended via several fields as we dropped down to Raisdale Beck, soon reaching the Chop Gate to Lords Stone road. We followed the tarmac lane for a hundred yards or so before turning left into a drive leading to Raisdale Mill.
The stile is almost hidden just before Stone Intake Farm
Steep descent to the Chop Gate to Lord Stones road
Stone Intake Farm
Really?! A crime scene near Raisdale Beck?
Raisdale Mill ahead
Reaching Raisdale Mill we found an old picnic table and had our coffee and scones in the sun.
Raisdale Mill
Date above Mill door
Even the outbuildings have hanging baskets
An ideal spot for lunch
Refreshed we set off from the mill, across the fields alongside Raisdale Beck until we reached a conifer plantation.
We then followed the forestry track until it crosses Raisdale Beck and swings sharply left. At this point we turned right, following a yellow waymark sign into fields and towards the remains of the hamlet of Clough.
Leaving the forestry plantation
The ruined hamlet of Clough
Looking round Clough
Old milk churn
Clough
The word Clough comes from the Anglo-Saxon for a valley with steep sides and this Clough is a rather sad spot with fairly extensive ruins showing that it was once a thriving community.
Beyond Clough the path crosses several boggy, reedy fields. There is no path as such but yellow waymarks indicate the way at every field boundary. We continued straight ahead until we reached Staindale Farm where we were greeted by noisy dogs.
Cross fields using way marks on field boundaries
Mine workings on Wath Hill opposite Staindale Farm
Staindale Farm
Staindale Farm
Sheep weather-vane at Staindale Farm
We get a noisy reception
We continued following yellow way marks through sheep fields soon reaching Thwaites House, and shortly after, the tarmac road almost adjacent to the Lords Stone Cafe.
Looking over to Low Broomflatt Farm
More sheep fields to cross
Thwaites House comes into view
Thwaites House
Duck pond at Thwaites House
Glamping pod at Lord Stones
After arriving at Lord Stones we changed out of our boots and sat in the sun outside the cafe with welcome pints of beer. We hadn't walked this enjoyable route since 2018 and we resolved to do it more often!
To Raisdale!
