Tripsdale

We have walked through the hidden valley of Tripsdale several times following walks in TSB's books but not yet visited Low Cable Stones, where we had read that relatives of Tom Scott Burns had affixed a bronze memorial plaque to the author and countryman.   Today we decided to do a 6.5 mile walk that would take in the those large, remotely sited stones and see the plaque for ourselves. This meant that for the first time in ages we would not actually be following one of TSB's walks!

 We parked at Chop Gate car park and walked up by William Beck Farm, then steeply up through the bracken to the escarpment where we turned left and followed the ridge until just before a plantation of trees where we turned onto the open moor and headed towards Tripsdale.

 William Beck Farm

 From the escarpment

 Crossing rough moorland towards Tripsdale

Initially we followed a shooters' track but this petered out and we trekked over open moor,  then along an ancient earthworks until the enormous stones came into view.

There are two plaques fixed to the rocks, the first is to Alfred J. Brown, a countryman and favourite author of TSB who placed the plaque with the blessing of  Brown's family.  The second is a small bronze plate inscribed with TSB's date of birth and death, and a quote "There must be Dales in Paradise", part of Brown's epitaph, "There must be Dales in Paradise, which you and I will find".  The stones are not easy to reach and there are no paths nearby, which makes them a more interesting feature, we thought.

 Clive on Low Cable Stones

 AJB's plate had once adorned his home

At some time in the remote past smaller stones have been set in front of the Cable Stones and finding a couple of flat ones we sat and enjoyed our coffee and scones, wondering as to the source of the name 'Low Cable Stones'.  Deciding to make further enquiries later and much refreshed, we set off  NNE across the open moor.  Eventually we reached a footpath which led us back to the escarpment  from where we descended through the pretty village of Seave Green.  We soon arrived at the Buck Inn in Chop Gate, where we enjoyed a pint sitting outside in the warm sunshine. 

 My right hand is next to the TSB's plaque 

Leaving Low Cable Stones along the ancient embankment, the head of Upper Tripsdale to the right

 Walking back towards the escarpment, Chop Gate below

 Starting the descent to Seave Green

 Substantial storehouse or shelter on descent

A reward at the Buck Inn

I was sure the landlord of the Buck Inn had a  German accent but Clive said he was sure he was Australian.  Returning to the bar I asked and he said he was Australian but had been born in Germany, so we were both right.  He and his wife had walked in the area in the 1970's and had loved the hills so they had bought the Buck. 

Who is Tom Scott Burns ?

Tom Scott Burns

Tom's memorial plaque at Tripsdale

 

8th August 2013
Retirement is great and so is walking.  For the last year or so Clive and I have walked every week on the North Yorkshire Moors, whatever the weather; throughout last year's awful summer and dreadful winter and this year's sunshine and summer heat.  The one constant of our weekly hike is that we choose a walk from one of two books, 'The Walker's Guide to the Cleveland Hills' or 'The Walker's Guide to the Hambleton Hills', by Tom Scott Burns.  These are just two of several very informative books he wrote about the North Yorks area.   Sadly Tom died in 2011 and Clive and I believe his excellently researched walks should live on and continue to be enjoyed.  TSB lived near me and was born in the same year as myself, but even though I bought his book (signed by him on 18th November 1993) and even though I must have often followed in his footsteps, we never did meet.  

Clive also has a copy and around the beginning of 2012 we decided to work our way through all the walks. Now, having completed each trail two or three times, we feel we have properly come to appreciate Tom Scott Burns through his marvellous descriptions of the hills and their flora and fauna.   

Today, Thursday 8th August 2013, Clive and I walked through Tripsdale and saw for the first time the bronze memorial plaque to Tom Scott Burns, which is fixed to Low Cable Stones.  It was a lovely sunny day and as we sat drinking our coffee beneath the plaque it occurred to me that I might start a blog which could be a place to upload my walking photos each week, perhaps with a few notes about the day's walk.  Just a simple blog that Clive and I could refer to and which would be a convenient way of remembering our walks in the Cleveland Hills.  Of course if anyone else should come across it and perhaps enjoy the photos of our lovely hills then they (you?) are most welcome.      

What could be a more appropriate way to start the blog than with today's walk to find the memorial plaque to Tom Scott Burns?