After leaving the car park we walked towards Old Hall Farm. Before reaching the Hall, at a fork in the road, we took a footpath which led us in a north west direction, through many narrow pinch stiles, passing Swincote and Cote Bottom then Barker, a set of farm buildings.
John and Judith negotiate one of the many 'pinch' stiles on the route. |
Just after passing through the gate at Barker we turned sharp right, behind the buildings, on a track up a steep incline. After about ¼ mile we took a footpath to our left then continued uphill on a grassy path.
The map shows a path to the right after about ½ mile but we found no sign of it on the ground; instead we continued on the path until reaching Stake Road, a track. This track was not immediately obvious as it is located in a ditch, probably worn by many years of use. |
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Soon, after about ¼ mile, we came across a footpath to our left (971859) which took us towards Gayle Ing. We stopped for lunch, close to a wooded area, at the footbridge which crossed Gayle Ing Beck.
After lunch at Gayle Ing, walking towards Flout Moor lane. |
After crossing the bridge we continued uphill in a north east direction until reaching Flout Moor Lane , a track.
We continued on the track, passing the footpath to the site of Castle Dykes Henge, a well preserved Neolithic henge, until reaching a minor road where we turned right towards Aysgarth.
Just before reaching the A684 we took a footpath to our right, through houses, which took us across fields to the minor road leading to Thoralby. |
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It was in these fields that we came across a strange sight of Russell and Judith lying down in a field appearing to be checking the height of the grass. When we got closer we could see that they were in fact negotiating an electric fence. Unfortunately we were too late to take a photograph.
We followed this road downhill; before reaching Thoralby we took a path to our left (004872) to reach a track which took us back to the car park.
Unfortunately "The George" was shut so we drove to Aysgarth for our usual post walk refreshments. |