Coomb Hill and Dale Town from Hawnby
6 miles Cool and dry
Tom Scott Burns suggests parking on the grass verge in front of the church at Hawnby but this is a wet grassy spot with 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 |
 |
| Clive finds a pound and pops it in the donation box |
 |
| Lower Hawnby |
 |
| Walking to the official start of today's walk |
We walked along lane to reach All Saints Church which is practically invisible among trees until you are almost on top of it. 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.
 |
| All Saints Church |
The church was open to visitors so we popped in for a look around.
One of the most notable features is a modern window commemorating the dead of WWI.
 |
| The altar window |
 |
| Looking back down the church from the altar |
The Revd. William Hughes was parson of Hawnby during the First World War and was known as 'The Fighting Parson' because of his encouragement of the young men of the area to join up. Because of this Hawnby has a larger than usual 'roll of honour' and deaths including the parson's own three sons. The window commemorates these men.
 |
| The Revd. William Hughes at the commemorating of the window |
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.
 |
| Leaving All Saints Church |
 |
| Hawnby Bridge |
 |
| The River Rye |
 |
| Follow the Inn Way |
 |
| ... up Coomb Hill |
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.
 |
| Hawnby Hill |
 |
| Going up Coomb Hill |
 |
| The trees of Coomb Hill |
 |
| We see tarmac below |
We walked along the road to reach the gates of Arden Hall and from this point the road begins a steep climb, eventually passing some old quarries to reach Daletown Common. Having gained height we could look down to our right into Thorodale, catching a glimpse of Thorodale Lake through the saplings.
 |
| The rooftops of Arden Hall |
 |
| Looking back to Hawnby Hill |
 |
| We begin a long steep climb |
 |
| Passing the old quarries |
 |
| Thorodale Lake through the trees |
We left the road to climb on to Daletown Common where we sat behind a stone wall to enjoy our coffee and scones out of the wind.
 |
| A fine view from Daletown Common |
 |
| Coffee break |
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. 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 passing some hardy cattle to reach a barn.
 |
| We spot the new water tank |
 |
| Clive soon replaces the fallen pipe to allow fresh water into the tub |
 |
| The old barn |
Just past the barn the path goes through an area of tumuli and TSB explains that before the moorland was enclosed there was a group of about 20 tumuli here, only 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.
 |
| Ancient tumuli |
Our route now headed towards the perimeter of North Bank Wood before turning sharp left downhill at a sign just before Sunnybank Farm. A steep and occasionally tricky descent back down to the River Rye followed.
In the corner of the field is an old shed which contains two elderly tractors. Outside the shed is another which looked as if it might have been used more recently. They look as if a lot of care and attention would be required to get them up and running again.
 |
| Clive inspects a belt driven saw |
 |
| This pair of pet sheep share the field with the tractors |
 |
| Dalicar Bridge |
We crossed Dalicar bridge and followed the tarmac back to Lower Hawnby, soon transferring to Upper Hawnby and The Owl, where we enjoyed a pint and discussed today's short but sweet TSB walk.
 |
| A pint at The Owl |
 |
| Hawnby from our table |
