Farndale

The start is the classic one on Blakey Ridge, with long views in many directions from this isolated top of the moors. It was quite dark but there were touches of distant light.

Our route started with some definition, but looked little visited these days. There was clearly history, a cutting that deepened, retaining walls of cut sandstone and then embankment.

In the 19th century, a tramway here serviced the Blakey Mines that were for ironstone. It was a branch line to the Rosedale to Middlesbrough ironstone railway. Also the ground has been dug hereabouts for jet and coal.

So these flanks of Farndale above the field walls and the thousand foot contour and already rough in nature have been further churned by man.

Consequently, sometimes it was slow going through the mined area, but no fear, I can recognise sphagnum moss when I squelch through it, and only one of our party got a wet foot.

The way became easier after a while and, as there was bracken, was better done in the winter.

A cave looked good and scary with holly above: the inside nicely dripping and with ferns and a little path up to it from some animal. We saw game birds.

The climb out of Farndale was easy, similarly the crossing of Blakey Ridge and the road, and on this two cyclists whispered past at speed.

We descended a little into Rosedale and met, could not miss, the track of the Rosedale Ironstone Mines railway that was our return.

And we met those walking it on that winter's day, four couples in two miles dressed in various fashion for the Rosedale catwalk. One woman was bound in black fleecy figure hugging cosiness by Velcro buckles, another sported a sky pale anorak and gaiters, another highlighted her extremities in red, another stepped out in retro waxed cotton and green wellies but rather spoiled the show with her Tesco plastic bag.

And when you're done, just up the road there's the iconic Red Lion Inn, a travellers' place described by a national paper in 2007 as the Best Pub on the North York Moors'.

Fact file

Distance: Five miles.

General location: North York Moors.

Start: Blakey Ridge.

Right of way: Public paths and Open Access Land.

Map: Drawn from OS Explorer OL26 North York Moors western area.

Dogs: Illegal.

Date walked: January 2008.

Road route: Via Hutton-le-Hole.

Car parking: Free roadside parking areas at junction with side road into Farndale GR SE683990.

Lavatories: None.

Refreshments: The Lion Inn at Blakey www.lionblakey.co.uk Tourist and public transport information: Moors Centre Danby 01439 770657.

Terrain: Ridge and valley sides.

Points of interest: Farndale farmers had their own private siding up here. Subterranea Britannica website on the mining www.subbrit.org.uk Difficulty: Moderate in fair weather.

Please observe the Country Code and park sensibly. While every effort is made to provide accurate information, walkers set out at their own risk

Directions

When in doubt look at the map. Check your position at each point. Keep straight on unless otherwise directed.

1 From parking area, cross road and downhill on road into Farndale for 20 yards. Old track/path on left, after half mile becomes cutting.

2 From stone walled part of cutting, angle downhill at first embankment (cairn) and then on bank to the right of more and rush filled cutting.

3 Last 100 yards before wood is boggy, angle left to cut corner and join grassy path/old track by woodland and roughly contour for next mile on edge of moor. When track ends, join narrow path by wall to your right and pass fieldgate with waymark. Cut corner from a barrier gate on your right up 150 yards to wall corner and again keep wall to your right.

4 From ladderstile by field corner on your right, keep wall to your right for another 200 yards to corner.

5 From corner angle uphill 11 o'clock for 300 yards to stone gatepost in ruined wall via a little stone bridge over stream, keep uphill on path which swings right about 150 yards above wall for 100 yards. Fork left on smaller path uphill, fades out on moor and head southeast for a few hundred yards to road.

6 At road and at footpath sign on west side of road, right on road (verge) for 50 yards, clear path on left (signed) via 5ft high cairn.

7 Left to disused Rosedale Railway track. Left at info boards and Blakey Bank sign up to parking area.