Go wild

The 10.30am Moorsbus transported us from Pickering, via Thornton-le-Dale, past Dalby Forest where Status Quo were set to shake their timbers, to peaceful Lockton on the North York Moors. We jumped off, another walker stayed on for Goathland, but with a similar plan, to hike back to Pickering.

Lockton has lovely houses and gardens and, new since Easter, a tasty place for coffee and apple pie called The Pantry. The talk was of thunderstorms, but a farmer said it wouldn't rain and we set off past a 'Wild About Ryedale' poster for a Ryedale seven miles distant.

Into the valley we descended, on a path that steeply cuts eight tight contours. Down there it felt like nature heated up, flat out growing, the air thick, the stream low and clear and the summer forest and impenetrable gorse smothering the higher slopes.

As our boots trod the pastures, a locomotive hooted from further down the dale.

After a mile or so, we ambled into the Farwath Tea Garden, plonked down on the benches a few yards from the track and watched a train steam by. Mrs Eddon and offspring served good tea and cakes, and her 'universal' sheepdogs (do both cattle and sheep) were friendly.

We pondered that of the four ways back to Pickering, by air, rail, road or path, only one was available as the train doesn't stop here and the heather besoms Mrs Eddon makes and sells, although they have generated transatlantic interest, would require Harry Potter skills quite beyond us.

Across the tracks we bought honey, walked the woods by the river and climbed through conifers to top out at wild grasslands with swallows, yellowhammers and smooth views over an eternity of wheat.

This is Duchy land (Prince Charles) so shan't harass him about an electric fence, especially as his son has asked us to be nice to his dad.

We stayed up high for a couple of miles, a hatch of thunderbugs coated a gate post, a train hooted and rattled and we descended a sunken wooded track to the Newbridge Crossing.

From here there is road, rail and river parallel for a mile, carriage after carriage, a fish farm, a fishing lake, a castle very close, a railway station, a pub, a shop selling model trains, another second-hand books, a ceramics gallery, a Cantonese restaurant, and that's just one road, i.e. plenty in Pickering.

Fact file

Distance: Seven miles.

Time: Four hours.

General location: North York Moors.

Start: The village of Lockton.

Right of way: The complete route is along public rights of way.

Date walked: Sunday, June 22 2003.

Road route: Moorsbus from Pickering (or York or elsewhere).

Car parking: Eastgate car park in Pickering. Longstay pay and display. The bus shelter is adjacent on the A170 (goes via Thornton-le-Dale).

Lavatories: Eastgate car park.

Refreshments: Tea and cake at The Pantry in Lockton and at the Farwath Tea Garden. Inns, cafs and restaurants in Pickering.

Tourist and public transport information: Pickering TIC 01751 473791.

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

Terrain: Valley and uplands.

Points of interest: Similar walks using the bus or the train. For example, for a longer, 13-mile version, get off the Moorsbus at the Hole of Horcum.

Difficulty: Moderate.

Dogs: Suitable.

Weather Forecast: Evening Press and recorded forecast 0891 500 418.

Directions

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

1. Alight from bus at edge of Lockton and walk through village until road swings right to Levisham, straight on.

2. Step-stile to path at Rectory entrance, pass garden. At bench, path downhill through woods. Left to road and almost immediately left to track through valley (few fieldgates). Track descends after woods and swings right.

3. Fieldgate on right at bend to track, (Farwath Tea Rooms sign). Bridge over river, immediately path on left.

4. Right uphill at 'Y' junction (river has swung away), ignore track on left after 25 yards, and continue straight uphill.

5. Fieldgate into meadow, one o'clock for 150 yards then loop back left to pass stone barn, 50 yards, fieldgate on right, cross track (so hedge to left) to field-edge path, after 50 yards into second field take track on left, gently descends. Double metal fieldgates, 11 o'clock across field, double fieldgates out, track beside farm.

6. Right by pond, 100 yards, fieldgate at wood edge (i.e. before cattlegrid into wooded valley), track gently uphill, pass barns, fieldgate to track through wood.

7. Fieldgate and right to track at 'T' junction. Left to road and back to Pickering (mostly pavement).

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: 08:54 Saturday, July 05, 2003