BOAC - Swainby Circular via Cleveland Way and Faceby

Date	10/04/08
Leader:	Ken G
Distance:	10
Weather:	Generally sunny
Walkers	7
Parking:	Near Community Centre
Map:	Ordnance Survey Explorer OL26

Route Summary - Swainby, Arncliffe Wood, South Wood, Cleveland Way, Scarth Wood Moor, Scugdale, Faceby, Whorlton castle, Swainby.

A great day for a walk - a clear sky with a slight chill in the air.

Some were keen to know how hard the walk was going to be.

How far? 9 ish.

Many hills? Maybe!

It's best not to be too precise in these matters!

We parked in the village of Swainby before heading down the high street, turning right at Claver Close to join a footpath across fields to Back Lane. Here we turned left and just after where the lane turned sharply to the right we joined a track to Scarth Wood Farm, Scarth Wood and Arncliffe Wood.

Soon after we passed the path down to Arncliffe Hall our path branched out to the left of the track before joining a track which took us down through South Wood where we emerged from the wood and met up with the Cleveland Way footpath.

We now followed the Cleveland Way, climbing through to the edge of the wood, had a stop for lunch, then continued to Scarth Wood Moor. Great views to be had along this stretch of the walk.

After crossing a minor road we continued through Clain Wood to a minor road at Swine Park. Here we turned left onto the road soon to rejoin the Cleveland Way.

After ½ mile the path turned sharply to the right, the Cleveland Way rising steeply up a paved section of track. However, at this point, we went through a gate on our left to join a path to Bank Lane which took us into Faceby.

From here we joined a footpath just after passing the church and made our way across fields to the lost village of Whorlton . Apparently the village was devastated by plague in the late middle ages but there remain the impressive ruins of a medieval castle.

We had been lucky with the weather but as we made our way into Swainby we started to feel spots of rain.

The 9ish mile walk ended up being exactly 10ish – according to the GPS! Although Swainby boasts 3 pubs all were shut so it was off to Stoksley as usual.