Walking in North Yorkshire

Slingsby Castle and Fryton from Hovingham

10.5 miles Sunny and warm

It's a couple of years since we walked this peaceful Tom Scott Burns route. He says in The Walker's Guide to the Hambleton Hills that this walk of woodland paths, open lanes, and the villages of Hovingham and Slingsby, with its ruined castle, will calm the most distraught mind. We would agree except for a confusing forestry trail encountered in the last couple of miles which might make the calm mind distraught once more.

We drove to Hovingham on the B1257 from Helmsley and parked at the roadside next to Hovingham Hall.

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

Approaching Hovingham Hall

TSB says Hovingham Hall was given to Roger de Mowbray by William the Conqueror and came to the Worsley family in 1563, with the present Hall dating from 1745. Next to the Hall is the Church of All Saints and seeing the door standing open we decided to look inside before starting our walk.

All Saints, Hovingham

Looking towards the rear of the church

Modern windows

Viking Cross

One of the most striking features of the interior of the church is a 10th century Viking Cross, mounted high in a frame and acting as the church's altar cross. Apparently it was once brightly painted.

Time was pressing as we had over 10 miles ahead of us so we set off briskly, walking past the entrance to Hovingham Hall and following the road around to the rear of the hall, where we found our permissive footpath had been temporarily closed and we followed the road to the entrance to Mill Wood.

Hovingham Hall gatehouse

Old water trough

Grazing management

Bridge folly

Hovingham Hall from the bridge

Turn off the road at this sign

We turned left into Mill Wood, the path now following the course of a stream before rejoining the road near to Hovingham Lodge. I had forgotten my hat and when the sun started to burn my bald head it was necessary to fashion emergency headgear from a small towel I carry.

The path through Mill Wood appeared little walked

Mill Wood

We emerge from the wood and follow the stream

"How do I look Clive?", "Stunning!"

We now crossed fields before rejoining the road and turning in at a sign for 'Aireyholme Farm, Home of the Flitwick Flock' (try that for a tongue twister!). Sadly the sign has weathered and has become almost illegible.

This farm track also serves Moor House Farm, a pig farm, which we passed on our way to Aireyholme.

Walking towards Aireyholme Farm

Handsome ram at Aireyholme

"Drat, I think I've got a speck of dirt on my nose..."

This sow was so pregnant she appeared to be stuck in the door

Pig Town

We eventually passed by Aireyholme Farm, no sign of the Flitwick Flock today, and reached a fish pond and the pig fields at Howthorpe Farm.

Hiding from mum

It was nice to see the pigs outdoors and living proper piggy lives. We stood and watched them for a while before moving on to Fryton Moor woods where we found a fallen tree to sit on and enjoy our coffee and scones.

Fryton Moor woods on the right

Work at Fryton Moor

An old washer woman joins Mother Theresa for a coffee

Setting off once again we crossed several more fields before reaching the entrance to Slingsby Bank Wood. A steep climb took us to the ridge and a long gentle descent to Slingsby. As we entered the village a sparrowhawk swooped across our path with a blackbird in its claws. The blackbird's head was hanging to one side and it appeared already dead. We walked through the pretty village to the Methodist church and a brightly coloured Maypole, where TSB reports that Plough Monday sword dancers once cavorted and the Slingsby Temperance Society held a great demonstration in 1851.

Along the ridge of Slingsby Bank Wood

Walking towards Slingsby

Sparrowhawk and prey

Walking through Slingsby

School and maypole

Cottage in Slingsby

We continued through the village to reach the ruins of Slingsby Castle, which is in a dangerous state and only visible from the neighbouring road. It was built by Sir Ralph Hastings in 1343 and enlarged by his grandson Lord William Hastings, who was beheaded for treason in 1483. Near the castle is The Church of All Saints, which was open so we popped inside. This building is mainly 15th century and the most interesting feature is a Victorian bier, which is in pristine condition.

Weather-vane in Slingsby

All Saints, Slingsby

Looking towards the altar

The Slingsby Bier

We walked away from the church and castle to turn right at a sign and cross a field path at Castle Farm leading to the hamlet of Fryton. The verges of this path were filled with wild flowers and were very attractive. However there is little to see in Fryton and we turned left into Fryton Lane for a long and slow climb back up to the woodlands of Fryton Moor.

Field paths to Fryton

Nearly there..

Attractive verge to the field path

A disapproving look in Fryton

Follow the lane back up to Fryton Moor

The plaque celebrates the finding of a 4000 year old skeleton in a nearby burial henge

Looks like Middlesbrough is getting wet!

We're still roasting in Hovingham

On reaching the trees we turned right where the path leads through trees for a mile and a half. There is no doubt that these woods have changed in the 30 years since TSB wrote his book and towards the end of this stretch the path is easily missed. A close eye to the map is required. Eventually we left the woods and turned north to join the straight path that would take us back to Hovingham.

The straight track to Hovingham

Alms Houses as we enter the village

Horse and cart weather-vane

Hovingham

We walked in to Hovingham and almost immediately came to the welcoming door of the Worsley Arms and after 10.5 miles in the sun we felt entitled to slip inside. Soon we were relaxing in the beer garden discussing today's walk, which although fairly long is ideal for a summer's day.