Walkers: THe birthday girl-Fiona! with Jan, PJ & Joan, Avril & JJ, Karena, Mick & Billy, Paul, Phil & Joan
Start & Finish: Rievaulx Terrace Weather: Heavy rain, then warm & sunny Distance: 7 miles Points of interest: The Abbey, Helmsley Castle, Duncombe House Pubs: Royal Oak, Helmsley, Hare Inn, Scawton We began our walk from the Rievaulx Terrace car park(free) downhill through the woods to Rievaulx village. Although it was very steep and a little slippery, Billy (the dog) made it look easy, and gave us all a thwack or two on the back of the legs with a 4 foot stick to keep us alert! After half a mile and about 15 minutes, we decided to take a not so well earned break at Rievaulx Abbey cafe, as it started to rain quite heavily. As we all set off from here with our waterprroofs on, of course it stopped raining..... We walked on the road for about half a mile, until reaching the right turn onto the Cleveland Way, showing Helmsley at 2.5 miles. This was a steady climb to the cross paths at the old Gatehouse for Duncombe Park. After admiring the lovely views, and taking photos, we took a path off the Cleveland Way onto the track to DP. |
After a few hundred yards, we took the left hand track into DP, where we approached the very grand views of Duncombe House. Crossing in front of the main entrance, then turning right behind it. We had lunch just outside the gates, but still in the park.
After viewing the folly, we walked on into Helmsley, with splendid views of the castle. After more photos around the stone bridge leading to the main square, with Fi doing acrobatic posing on it, I would have fallen off it! We refreshed at the Royal Oak. All the men drank a pint of Forty Nine, which was 4.9%. The girls had soft drinks...Billy was refreshed with a dip in the local stream. After a short while, we continued through Helmsley to rejoin the Cleveland Way, which was a steady climb along field edges, except for a trip into the woods downhill via steps, then more steps back up! We then arrived back at the gatehouse, this time veering right on another official path towards a farm. A short cut would have been nice through this farm, but instead the way markers took us through fields until we rejoined the track up to a road. After crossing the road straight on, we arrived back at the Terrace to complete the walk. Paul and Karena, Joan & myself decided we'd check out the Hare at Scawton, as we will return to this area at some time, I'm sure! It is a little pricey on the food side, but they have a lovely olde worlde pub here, and very attentive staff. By Phil |