Troutsdale

SPRING snow is not the same as the winter stuff. It's not nice. So, for shelter, we headed for the trees on the western edge of the biggest forest hereabouts, Dalby.

The cold up at Cockmoor hurried us on our way, and all we really registered was that the car park had a new fence to protect the dikes.

Quick as a flash we dropped into the valley. If it weren't for primroses, wood anemones and honeysuckle it could have been a time warp.

Down in Troutsdale there was clear water and marsh marigolds. Deer with white rumps bounced over the road and bobbed up one flank and into conifers. We climbed into the trees the other side where the larch were hazed with green and a bird sang out a lovely two-phrase song.

There was a burnt-out car by the track, lots of signs to remind us that this was an open access area and then a bridleway we selected because it minimised the chances the route would be disturbed by tree felling. There were trees down, but that had been the winter storms. It was windy, the soundscape varied mile by mile with different trees making different sounds, mostly the white noise of dark conifers.

We took an old 'green lane' out of the forest, only to be faced by a perimeter laced with barbed wire.

This we climbed to get onto Ebberston Common, a high plateau with views. Then we knocked up the farmer and told him that his barbed wire was improper and he seemed keen to sort it out so you should get a result.

We also informed the relevant highways authority.

Fast smooth Dalby Forest tracks came next, a mile or so of speedy walking south.

Free-range pigs have shelters shaped as triangles or half circles, but most porkers were lurking inside; pine trees had snow plastered on the north side of their trunks and the hot sun on the south side.

The last length of track is a part of the Moor to Sea cycle route.

A sign imposes a speed limit of 10mph on the bikes. This would be hard to exceed on the rutted sections. And, talking of ruts, the landscape here is grooved with many prehistoric ones.

You can see much of this from the car park, where it looks as if a farmer has been over the land with a giant plough.

directions

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

Right to road downhill, left at corner, straight on to track at corner, fieldgate, 150 yards.

Before house, fieldgate on right to track uphill, gate to wood-edge path then into wood. Ignore all side turns.

At junction with posts to right and left each waymarked with blue arrows (denoting bridleway), left to path through wood, cross over 5-way junction (arrow).

Right to dirt track (waymarked post hidden behind bush), 100 yards, left to grass track, 200 yards. Find way over wire fence (hopefully stile by now) onto pasture, 10 o'clock across pasture to old fieldgate to track between trees, fenced either side.

Track, edge of farmyard/house, to access drive, 300 yards, left to main forest track.

Right at main tracks junction. Ignore right turn on left-hand curve. Pass farm.

Track on left (signed Link) back to parking area.

fact file

Distance: Six miles.

Time: Three hours.

General location: Dalby Forest.

Start: Troutsdale Brow, GR. 915 868.

Right of way: The route is along public rights of way, a usage length. Most in Forestry Commission Open Access Area.

Date walked: Friday, April 8, 2005.

Road route: From Snainton on the A170, north on Nettledale Lane at the Peacock Hotel, signed 'Troutsdale'.

Car parking: Fenced, free car park.

Lavatories: None.

Refreshments: None.

Tourist & public transport information: Pickering TIC 01751 473791.

Map: Based on OS Explorer OL27 North York Moors western area.

Terrain: Hilly forest.

Points of interest: The area is liberally scattered with dikes, tumuli and other earthworks.

Difficulty: Moderate.

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

Click here to view a map of the walk

Updated: 08:49 Saturday, May 21, 2005