Spread Eagle Group Walk 16th June 2013
The Welton Circle (or The Saga of the Disappearing Coat) Eight of us set off at 9.30am from the Spread Eagle car park Myself & Anita, Phil & Joan, Jonathan & Avril, Paul and Corrina. Somewhat reduced numbers due to Fathers Day duties. We arrived at the Village of Welton, parked the cars and set off walking at about 10.20am. The route took us up Chapel Hill, a lane under a tunnel of trees and up onto the Wolds where we had views over the Humber Estuary. We passed Wauldby Manor Farm, a fine large house with a lake and a small church within the grounds. We continued up to Turtle Hill between arable lands and grazing cows, then followed a narrow footpath and joined a road, part of the Beverley 20. Turning left off the road on to a wide track that became a tarmac road heading downhill back towards the River Humber. We were looking for a left turn off this lane but I misread the map and we went too far descended Spout Hill and ended up in the village of Brantingham. We decided to have our sandwiches sitting by the picturesque village pump. Spout Hill we discovered is one of the steepest hills around and in the past it was used by race horse trainers to judge their horses fitness for racing. If they could get to the top without being breathless they were considered ready. Now it is used by cyclists as a time trial course. Surprisingly nobody seemed keen on the idea of returning up the hill! We decided to carry on to Elloughton, we continued through the village passing the pretty village pond with seats around it, an alternative but less unusual lunch stop. After a short bit of road walking we crossed the A63 via a footbridge to climb back up to the Wolds. Unfortunately Jonathan & Avril had to leave us at the bottom of the hill for a family meal in Osset so we were down to six. After a bit of a climb with lovely views of the Humber we collapsed on to seat placed there in memory of a young women who had sadly died at the age of 28years. |
Having taken a few pictures and enjoyed the views and got our breath back, we continued into the wood and joined the path we should have taken earlier. The woods were full of unusual purple flowers that on closer examination turned out to be orchids. On reaching the road we turned left and after a short distance turned right off the road onto a farm track. At a dip in the land we turned right again rejoining the Wolds Way. This took us down Welton Dale, a deep V shaped valley. There was some speculation as to the cause of the deep cut through the dale and we agreed we would have to do some research into the reasons for this unusual valley.
As we were walking down the valley Phil suddenly realise he had lost his coat from the back of his rucksack and before any one could stop him he said he would retrace his steps and catch us up with us later - so now there were five. Luckily we were only about half a mile from the pub and we reach it without losing anyone else! After the five remaining walkers had a couple of well earned drinks Joan’s phone rang and it was Phil to say he had found his coat and was in a pub in the village of Elloughton. The news that he had found it and where he had found it bought the rest of us to hysterical laughter! After some time we recovered enough to tell him that we would pick him up from the pub we jumped into the cars and met Phil in the car park with a pint in his hand wearing his coat. A happy ending to a good day where we were blessed with some nice weather and good company. Roger Phil Mueller added: "I had a gut feeling that I would find my coat, and after retracing 3.5 miles through Brantington to Elloughton, and being extremely hot, decided to pop in to the Half Moon. When I removed my rucksack, I was taken aback-with mixed feelings....and perhaps a few words to myself, there it was! The COAT! nestling in between my rucksack straps......bearing in mind that I had earlier complained to Paul that my back was extremely warm due to the poor design of my recently bought rucksack!" "I am pleased everyone had a good laugh about it, and it doesn't bother me one bit, because my coat, expensive battery and myself are again reunited......well at least for now..." |