Boltby to Gormire Lake and Whitestone Cliff

7 miles                  Very windy

Strong winds today as Storm Gareth passes over North Yorkshire. Tom Scott Burns visits Gormire Lake on two of his walks, from Kilburn and this one from Boltby.

We reached Boltby from the A19 Knayton turn off and drove right through the village and up a steep hill to a small designated car park at the side of the road.

We walked back down the road into Boltby and took the first left into a lane.  Tom Scott Burns explains that Boltby is of great antiquity and is mentioned in the Domesday Book as the property of Hugh, son of Baldric.

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

Walking back to Boltby

The Old School House, Boltby

Weather vane in Boltby

We passed the last of the houses and soon our lane petered out and we went through a gate to follow a faint track over the shoulder of Little Moor, where we said hello to the first of many hikers we saw today, this group sitting among the trees having an early snack.

The lane ends at this ford

Texel Toughs, rams in a nearby field

Looking back to Boltby

Hikers ahead

Greendale Farm

We rarely see other hikers when on a TSB walk but today we must have passed eight groups.  After circumnavigating Cow Pasture Wood we dropped down to Greendale Farm and followed the path around the side of a hill to reach Tang Hall Farm where we turned left just before the buildings.

Greendale Farm

Tang Hall Farm

Very soon we were on a bridleway, once an old coach road, which crosses Huggon Howl to Southwoods Hall.  Here we found we were kept to the bridleway by new fencing which stretched right across Huggon Howl, past the Hall to reach the trees at Midge Hole Gate.  Work was ongoing and we chatted to a workman who explained the double lines of fencing would soon enclose new hedging.  

We walked past the hall, hidden from view behind its own high hedge, and as we reached Midge Hole Gate were pleased to see a small herd of deer grazing.  We watched them for a while, (sadly no zoom on my camera) and then as we opened the gate hoping to get nearer, we were spotted and the deer ran off into the trees.

We are kept to the bridleway

Southwoods Hall

New fencing all the way across Huggon Howl

Fish pond in front of Southwoods Hall

Deer grazing

We're spotted and they're off!

We turned into South Woods on a forest path which we followed to reach Southwoods Lodge, sporting a new coat of paint and looking much smarter than on our last visit.

In to South Woods

Southwoods Lodge

On reaching the lodge we followed the track straight ahead through Garbutt Wood, eventually reaching Gormire Lake where we were startled by a voice saying "Now then."  Almost hidden in the bushes were bivouacs and a black hammock, which is where the voice came from although its owner was invisible to the eye.

There were three 'rough campers' and we chatted to them about what fish they hoped to catch before moving on to our usual spot by the lake bank, where we sat in the sun to enjoy our coffee and scones.

Walking through Garbutt Wood

Gormire ahead!

"Now then!" There's someone in that hammock..

Hoping for a catch

Our time in the sun

The view across Gormire

There are two terraces around Gormire and TSB explains that these were once shorelines when the lake was much deeper.  Its is often described as bottomless but is actually about 27 feet deep in the centre and covers about twenty six acres.  Tradition has it that a town stood here which was destroyed in an earthquake, but the lake is actually the result of a glacial overflow channel being blocked by a landslip, hence its position up a hillside.  No streams flow from it and its waters are mainly supplied by rain and diminish with evaporation.  A major landslip happened here on the 25th March 1755 which was described by Rev John Wesley as 'like many cannons or rolling thunder'.

Finally it was time to go and leaving the lake we climbed straight up through Garbutt Wood to reach Sutton Brow.  This is a steep half mile diagonally up the side of the bank and we were much warmer by the time we reached the top.  From here there is a fine view back to Gormire Lake and to the left over towards Roulston Scar.  After catching our breath we set off past Whitestone Cliff, still looking down at the lake from various vantage points.

Storm Gareth was blowing a gale up here but the wind was generally to our side, pushing us away from the cliff edge.

A steep climb after coffee

Hood Hill from our climb

Not far now...

Made it!

Worth the climb

Good job we're being blown away from the edge..

We now had a three mile walk along the ridge, passing the remains of several tumuli to our right and with fine views to our left over Thirlby and then Boltby.

Whitestone Cliff

Thirlby

Eventually we passed by the remains of an old hill fort and quarry and reached the derelict High Barn where we left the ridge at a sign, turning left to descend towards Boltby.

Boltby

Tom Scott Burns explains that the fort originally had a D shaped rampart enclosing three acres.  Gold earrings from the early Bronze Age have been unearthed, along with pottery from an earlier culture, probably Neolithic.

Quarry and fort

You can tell you're on National Trust land by the plethora of signs

Approaching the old barn

Turn left downhill at the barn

A steep downhill took us past Hesketh Grange Farm, over a couple of bridges and then steeply back uphill, towards Boltby and the car park.

A steep descent 

Looking back towards Boltby Scar, the trees on the horizon are at the old barn

The end of the walk

Slingsby Castle and Fryton from Hovingham

10.5 miles                   Wet and cold

We thought we would do a longer walk today and this nice route from Tom Scott Burns's The Walker's Guide to the Hambleton Hills just fits the bill.

TSB says 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.

Hovingham

We drove to Hovingham via Helmsley along the B1257 and parked at the roadside.  As we booted up a couple of gents approached and asked us where we were walking.  They told us they had decided to cancel their walk because of the rain.  A mistake, we felt, as they had waterproofs with them.

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

We parked next to Hovingham Hall which TSB says 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.  

Hovingham Hall

Next to the hall is the Church of All Saints and we decided to look inside before starting our walk, hoping that the rain would ease while we were inside.

The tower was built before the Norman Conquest

This is an old church and informative notes inside explain that the tower has been more or less untouched since it was built, sometime between 1042 and 1066.

One of the most striking features inside 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.

Front and rear of Viking Cross

Modern window

Altar and cross situated in chancel

Time was pressing as we had over 10 miles ahead of us so we stepped back into the rain and set off, walking past the entrance to Hovingham Hall and following the road around to the rear of the hall, where we entered fields at a footpath sign.

We could now see the rear of the Hall and passed by an attractive bridge and waterfall feature which must have originally been built to be viewed from the Hall.

Rear of Hovingham Hall

Following a small path through the grounds...

... and passing a water feature

Shortly after passing the bridge we rejoined the road for a short time before turning left into Mill Wood, the path now following the course of a stream before rejoining the road near to Hovingham Lodge. 

Turn into Mill Wood

That's the way!

Muddy forestry path

Looking back to Mill Wood

The track took us past Thwaites Cottage and then Hovingham Lodge before joining field paths towards Airyholme Farm, whose sign proudly proclaimed it to be the Home of the Flitwick Flock.

Thwaites Cottage

Lodges and cottages are big buildings in this area!

"Is it easing?"

Larches and conifers make a nice backdrop as we walk

Field tracks towards Aireyholme

Early bluebells in a sheltered spot

As we approached the farm we saw some rams in a field, the luckier ewes appeared to be sheltering in poly-tunnels. The rams seemed to be an eclectic mix.

Walkling towards Airyholme Farm

Airyholme Farm

The Wild Bunch

Some diverse rams

Just after the farm we passed by a large fish pond and decided a fallen gatepost would made a good seat where we could enjoy our coffee and scones.   

Silent bird scarer

Fish pond...

... and fallen gatepost for coffee stop

As we ate our scones we listened to grunts emanating from an enormous outdoor pig farm, fortunately downwind of us. When we set off again we walked around the perimiter admiring the stock.

The pigs suck water from the taps

"Morning"

Rish Tea biscuits were popular among the residents

Pig Town

There were hundreds of pigs of every shape, size and age, and it was nice to see them running free.

We walked on through fields before turning to climb through Slingsby Bank Wood.

We leave Pig Town 

Climbing through Slingsby Bank Wood

Eventually we reached Bank Lane and a long gentle descent to Slingsby.   We walked through the pretty village to the Methodist church and a brightly coloured Maypole, where TSB reports Plough Monday sword dancers cavorted and the Slingsby Temperance Society held a great demonstration in 1851.

Weather vane entering Slingsby

Interesting architecture

Methodist Church

Maypole at Slingsby

We continued through the village to reach the ruins of Slingsby Castle, which is 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. 

Slingsby Castle, entry forbidden

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.

All Saints, Slingsby

A large church for the size of the village

Large brass oil lamp chandelier

Victorian Bier

There are interesting stone heads to inspect and a beautifully painted ceiling, but eventually we returned to our path.

Masked face

The three 'R's

We walked away from the church and castle to turn left into field paths at Castle Farm, and walked to the hamlet of Fryton.  There is little to see in Fryton and we turned left into Fryton Lane for a long and slow climb up to the woodlands of Fryton Moor.

Slingsby

Field path to Fryton

HGV weathervane at Fryton

Follow the lane towards Baxton Howe

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

On reaching the trees we turned right where the path leads through trees for a mile and a half.  Towards the end of this stretch the path is easily missed because of recent forestry work and concentration is needed. Eventually we turned north to join the straight path that took us back to Hovingham.

Forest paths

We rejoin the Ebor Way

Weather vane on outskirts of Hovingham

Hovingham appeared below us and we walked straight into the village and almost immediately reached the Worley Arms Hotel, whose Cricketers Bar is open all day.

The log fire was stoked in our honour and we sat with a reinvigorating pint to discuss an interesting day's walk.

Hovingham below

Clive veers off-piste

Time to get wet inside for a change