At the end of the village we followed a footpath sign just beyond Bridge Cottage directing us through a gate and onto a field path running alongside the River Rye. After about a mile we crossed a small bridge over a tributary and immediately turned left to follow a faint path through fields.
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| Past the cottage and through the gate... |
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| .. to follow the river for a mile or so |
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| Clive checks a rickety bridge |
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| This one is beyond checking! |
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| Turn left to follow a faint path |
As we followed the field path snow started to fall and as we reached and turned left onto a farm track known as High Moor Lane, it began to fall heavier.
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| A hide at Low Moor Plantation |
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| Snow starts to fall |
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| We turn left to ? |
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| High Moor Lane |
We crossed a tarmac lane before continuing through fields to reach the B1257, where we emerged just above the village of Stonegrave, home of England's smallest minster.
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| We reach the B1257 and see the minster |
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| Stonegrave Minster, founded around 757AD |
TSB says that Stonegrave is derived from steinn-gryfia meaning a 'stone cleft', and there were important quarries of building stone here in the Middle Ages.
We turned off the busy road and walked past an Elizabethan manor house to reach the tiny and ancient Stonegrave Minster which was mentioned in an eighth century letter from Pope Paul to Eadbert, king of Northumbria.
It started to snow heavily as we arrived so we moved a bench into the minster porch to sit, warm and cosy, with our coffee, watching the snow fall outside the door.
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| Passing by the Elizabethan Manor |
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| Stonegrave Minster |
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| We watch the weather worsen |
After drinking our coffee we had a look around the minster and I was particularly impressed by a Celtic cross dating from the 8th or 9th century.
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| Celtic Cross |
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| Side window |
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| Altar window |
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| The Thorntons |
Eventually it was time to step out into the snow once more and we found the gravestones illegible in the snow, so after returning the bench to its proper spot, we crossed the Malton road and joined a grassy path which veers left from the road to climb Caulkleys Bank.
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| Time to go |
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| Norman head |
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| Stonegrave Minster |
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| We give up trying to read the epitaphs |
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| Climbing Caulkleys Bank |
The name Caulkleys is a corruption of 'Chalk Lands' and in The Walker's Guide to the Hambleton Hills one reads that the terrain here consists mainly of rich deposits of reef limestones and detritus known as Coral Rag, all pointing to the marine origins of this hillside.
Reaching the top of Caulkleys Bank we walked along the grassy ridge and after passing Caulkleys Wood we had fine views in all directions. We were pleased that the grassy track which had all but been destroyed in 2017 by horse and bike traffic, was returned to its proper state.
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| Thatched cottage at Stonegrave |
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| Climbing Caulkleys Bank |
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| Walking alongside Caulkleys Wood |
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| A lonely pine catches the sun |
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| The grassy track appears to have recovered |
We followed the ridge walk for about 2.5 miles, at its highest point it is marked by a prig point. TSB says that no less than 22 towns, villages and hamlets and sixteen churches can be seen from here.
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| Good job we know the way.. |
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| Trig Point... |
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| .. and memorial bench |
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| Starting to descend |
Eventually our path began to lose height and we reached the houses of the tiny hamlet of West Ness.
Clive and I had been looking forward to inspecting the produce of a little cake stand we found at West Ness Hall Farm last visit but were disappointed today to see that it was no longer in operation.
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| Entering West Ness |
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| Rams at West Ness Hall Farm |
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| "Where's the cake stall??" |
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| Old chapel at West Ness |
Just past a Wesleyan chapel built in 1836, the path leaves the road and rejoins the River Rye. We walked alongside the peaceful river for about 1.5 miles and reached Mill Farm.
TSB says there has been a mill here since Domesday and the present mill dates from 1875. Until 1950 the mill race powered a generator providing electricity for Nunnington Hall.
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| Geese share the sheep field |
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| Approaching Mill Farm |
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| The old Mill buildings |
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| The mill race |
Continuing alongside the river we reached Nunington Hall, where the screeching of peacocks could be heard. The Hall was owned by Sir Thomas Parr in the sixteenth century so it's possible that Catherine Parr, Henry VIII's last wife, played in the village as a child.
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| Following the river |
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| Nunnington Hall |
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| Hall cottages |
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| Hall and farm buildings |
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| Southdown sheep at Nunnington Hall |
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| Pheasant weather vane at Nunnington Hall |
We crossed the bridge and returned to the car. Sadly the village pub, The Royal Oak, has closed its doors to business and a trip further afield would be necessary should one want post-walk refreshment.
