Osmotherley, Solomon's Temple and Chequers.
(North Yorks.) October 13th.
We were going to walk from Alwinton in Northumberland but the weatherman forecast rain in the north of the north, slightly less rain in the south of the north so we are off to Osmotherley on the edge of the Hambleton Hills in North Yorkshire.
Easy to find from base, A19 south and turn off to the left when you spot the sign, park on the village street, free. And there are benches or a bus shelter for booting up. There is also a fine little café, The Osmotherley Tea and Coffee Room, run by some lovely ladies who serves bacon sandwiches, scones and toasted crumpets too. 
The required map is OS OL 26, North Yorks Moors, Western Division. The bus shelter is at GR SE 456972, approximately.

                  Car park and bus shelter.
Fed and watered we headed north up the village road, past a number of attractive stone cottages before turning left onto the Cleveland Way.

                     Luebury? Buebury? Turn onto it anyway.
After a short distance we left the Cleveland Way to visit The Lady's Chapel which has some connection with the nearby Mount Grace Priory.

                        The Lady Chapel.
Beyond the chapel we opted for a footpath alongside Arncliffe Wood which eventually brought us back to the Cleveland Way and the nest of radio ariels.

                              The nest of radio ariels

Beyond the wood we entered the National Trust Scarth Wood Moor, good for views.

                             For October it was very warm, 18C , humid and overcast.
Having crossed the moor we came to Scarth Nick, turned south and walked along the road until we came to  Cod Beck Reservoir, a popular local dog walking area.

                          Cod Beck Reservoir.

                     Lunch time near the dam. Today's feast consisted of Pork Pie, Chocolate cake, Ben's ginger biscuits, Double Decker bars and Mrs A's chocolate flapjack. And a sandwich.
Fed and watered for the second time we took the path southeast through a wooded area eventually coming to a gate, crossing a field and finding Rocky Plain farm. Down the farm track, watching a group of beaters putting up the grouse, turning right and following the road past Solomon's temple. This part of the walk is on an old drove road, there is evidence of a walled stockade for holding cattle on the way to market. There is also The Chequers, once a drovers' inn, now a house.

                   Once the inn sign for The Chequers, the board now decorates the house wall.
Beyond the old inn we came to Square Corner, a car park and little else.

                Not on today's walk, but what a name.
At Square Corner we turned north west down Oak Dale. The path is a good one, mostly flagged with true Yorkshire grit flagstones, probably as well because it falls quite steeply, passing Oakdale Upper and Lower Reservoirs.

                  Oak Dale, well named and flagged. I was flagging a bit myself at this point. Probably eaten too much this week even though I didn't join in the Curry Night on the previous evening.

                                   Oak Dale Upper Reservoir
When we reached the road we stopped to admire the garden of the house before turning left and then almost immediately right up the lane to The White House!

                        I'm probably wrong but I think this is a Japanese style garden. Those who know better are more than welcome to put me right.
Beyond the White House we followed the Cleveland Way downhill, across a stream, up a steep bank, down a lane with some interesting stiles and down a passageway (Ginnel in Tyke talk) and finally emerging back on the village street.

                 This week's gate fastener, gravity operated self closing gate

                                   The last few yards down the ginnel

                                    And out on to the street.
Changed we walked across the road to The Queen Catherine pub and restaurant.

Named for Catherine of Aragon, Henry VIII's first wife. She called in on her way to Mount Grace Priory. Today the pub offered Lancaster Bomber, Wainwright, Aragon (brewed especially for the pub) and Boon Doggle. 
A slightly shorter walk than our usual strolls but qualifies as a good 'in. A few slight climbs, good views, changing terrain and a beautiful Yorkshire village to start and finish. It is also the start of the Lyke Wake Walk (42 miles)

The Matrix MMXVII  Z+

                                                                          steps                               miles
NAK                                                                 20256                             8.31
iPhone                                                              19999                              8.9
OUTDOOR GPS                                                                                      8.49
Dave's 3D                                                         18819                               8.32
  "" USB                                                            17816                              8,44
  "" NAK                                                           17682                              8.37
Sylvia's mother                                                 17673                              8.37
Brian                                                                                                         8.3

                        Contains OS data Copyright. Crown copyright and database right 2017
Plus some photographs

Another repeat, but does it matter, the John Martin Trail is always a good walk. (October 6th)
  Over the usual post walk pint last Friday we had the usual discussion on our next outing. I remarked that The Times, in its list of "the best autumn walks" had chosen Holy Island for Northumberland. Lindisfarne, to give it its other name, is a fine walk, a bit flat, dependent on tides and by no means the best autumn walk I could think of.
Somebody suggested The John Martin Trail. It has woodland, perfect for autumn colours, three shortish climbs, river banks and fields. Perfect for a dry day  in October, even though we have walked it several times before.
On the way we stopped at Brockbushes farm shop for the usual breakfast. It's just off the A69 at the Corbridge roundabout and has a busy little restaurant. And a Pick Your Own fruit farm in season.

                     Breakfast at Brockbushes
The walk starts at Haydon Bridge in Northumberland. Take the A69 west from Newcastle, turn right for the town, turn left just before the bridge, turn left by the club and park in the area near Dr. Shaftoe's School. It's free.

                This week's car park near Shaftoe School. (GR NY843640)
The map to use, and it is a good idea, is OS OL 43 Hadrian's Wall.  It's a double sided map and naturally the walk is on both sides, photocopy and laminate, never mind sarcastic comments from daughters.
The walk;
We walked past the school to the Social Club, crossed the road and followed the lane past several houses on the right and some new build on the left, under the A69, passing East Lands Farm on the way where John Martin was born. As a reminder, John Martin, artist (1789 - 1854) was born here. He painted proper pictures, large, colourful and often with Biblical themes.

               Top, The Destruction of Pompeii, not biblical of course. Bottom: The Great day of his wrath

                 John Martin;s birthplace. The fact is recorded on a plaque on the end.
Continuing along the farm lane we came to Lees Farm where we were greeted as usual by the sheep dogs. The three legged one was not there, perhaps gone to the great shepherd in the sky.
 We went through the farm yard, past the cottages and followed the sign post across fields and uphill, the first short climb of the day. It was a beautiful autumn morning, the view back across the Tyne Valley is spectacular.

Top; It's a bit early for true autumn colours
Bottom; Tyne Valley
After crossing a couple of fields we came to a gate and followed the road downhill to the entrance to Moralee Wood.
There is a small lake in the wood, it appears to be clogged with lilies and weeds, rushes ring it and there was no apparent bird life on it. There is a charcoal burner though.

           Charcoal Burner and pond.
 There are several marked trails through the woods, but as followers of John Martin we took his which wanders down to the banks of the River Allen through rocky terrain, supposedly his inspiration. After walking along the edge of field the path came to a road and we were at Plankey Mill, always a Herbie Spot on this walk. A grassed area, (cars £3 a day) there are a couple of picnic tables close to the river, trees surround,an ideal spot.

              Herbie Spot.  Home made cookies from John Ha, Ben's famous ginger biscuits, my humble home made flapjack, flapjack bars and  scones from Mrs A.

               Bridge at Plankey Mill. Not on our route. There was a mill here but nobody seems to know why it's called Plankey. Maybe they sawed wood, simple as that.
Having feasted we moved on across the fields by the river before entering the next National Trust wood (Staward Wood) and beginning the short but steep climb to the ruin of Staward's Peel. Built in the 14th century, mostly from wood, there is little left and what is is covered with brambles at the moment. Built at the end of a narrow strip, once a Roman Temple, high between two streams it must have been easily defended. The path away from it has steep drops on either side and the views across the valleys are well above tree top level.
.

                           Remaining stone wall, coverd by mother nature

                         Artist's  impression
At the end of the path we crossed a field to the gate that leads to Harsondale Burn woods. Downhill, across a footbridge and uphill, another steep climb, but short and pretty with sunlight dappling through the trees. (what a wasted life I've led, should have been a bad poet)
Out of the wood we crossed a field to Harsondale Farm and turned right along the lane. Deciding to have a variation on the usual John Martin trail we crossed a stile on the left a few hundred yards from Harsondale Farm and walked more fields to the farm at Silly Wrea.
I like this farm, it still uses horse-power for much of the farm work although not much was happening today, the horses were relaxing in the fields.

                  One of the horses at Silly Wrea, (on the right, not John) The farm in the background.
Silly Wrea means quiet corner apparently. The family have had books and TV shows made about the farm.
From the farm we walked along the lane, turned lft to Lough Green, turned right and walked across fields and a green lane to the cottage at West Deanraw.  Back on a road, not a favourite with gadgies, we walked to the Castle Farm and turned right. Just before the castle, now used as a hotel, wedding venue and tea room, we took the track on the left, crossed more fields before entering the woods alongside Langley Burn. At the end of the path, joining the road we turned right and at the next junction took the road to Haydon Bridge. After going under the A69 we turned right into the small park and were soon back at the car. changed we headed for the Boathouse pub in Wylam, beer drinkers paradise. It claims to have 14 beers on hand pumps, plus a few lagers.

Part of the bar at the Wylam Boathouse. The coffee was good too.
This is yet another good Northumberland walk that should get more publicity. A few climbs, woodland, fields, riverside scenery and a pretty picnic place to boot.
A bit short on the pedometer readings again as Dave is away.
NAK                                                      26232 steps                             11.58 miles, generous
iPhone                                                    22839   ""                                  10,7  "
OUTDOOR GPS                                                                                      10.4  "
Brian's GPS                                                                                               10.7  "

  Contains OS data, copyright. Crown copyright and database right 2017

Plus a few extras