BOAC

THE BOLDON OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES CLUB

 
 

Danby Circular via Little Fryup Dale and Botton

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Date 14/10/07
Leader: Ken G
Distance: 12 miles
Weather: Overcast but dry.
Walkers 12
Parking: N/A
Map: Ordnance Survey OL 26
   

Route Summary - Danby, Danby Castle, Little Fryup Dale, Botton, Castleton, Danby Park, Danby.

 

All new members are welcome?

From the Danby Moor Centre we followed a footpath on a grassy path towards a footbridge then crossed a railway line before reaching a minor road. We followed the road passing Duck Bridge, a medieval (late 14th Century) packhorse bridge (named in honour of George Duck who restored it during the eighteenth century), before continuing uphill to the ruins of Danby Castle.

 

 

Just after Crossley Gate Farm we joined a footpath through farmland to cross Little Fryup where we had to negotiate deep mud and slurry. Soon we joined a farm track which led us to a minor road at Stonebeck Gate Farm - up ahead a small conical hill (imaginatively named 'Round Hill') marked the head of Little Fryup Dale.

Some ears perked up at the mention of a fryup but they were disappointed. It would be wonderful if Fryup was named after an English breakfast but it is said it actually comes from an Old Norse ladies name of 'Fria' and 'Up' which is an old fashioned term for small valley.

Stop for lunch below Raven Hill..

From here it was uphill again before joining a track taking us through Woodhead Farm. The track from here although initially muddy soon became a grassy track and we were rewarded with wonderful views across Great Fryup Dale - a great place for a lunch stop before the short steep climb up Raven Hill.

 

We passed through Botton Village

After climbing the hill we continued on a gentle slope over moorland before dropping down into Danby Dale and the village of Botton. After passing Botton sawmill and school we continued on to Stormy Hill where we joined a track to our right which took us through several farms to a lane.

From here we walked uphill skirting the edge of Castleton Rigg then joining a footpath through fields heading towards Didderhowe Farm. Here we met up with Mick's group who gave us important info as to which pubs were open in the town. A local here was insistent that the correct route was through Didderhowe farm, mentioning that the farmer further on was a bad tempered ********, but we kept to the planned route into Castleton - also a right of way. Here some of us went to a coffee shop while others had ½ hr at the Downe Arms Inn.

We then walked through the town to cross the Esk and then continued steeply uphill to join a footpath which took us through the woods of Danby Park , previously an enclosed deer park for nearby Danby Castle . After leaving the wood the path became a wide green trod - great views here of Danby Dale and Ainthorpe and Castleton Riggs. We joined a road for a while before taking a footpath into Danby.