Stopping by

GEORGE Wilkinson has tweaked some small part of his left foot, and for a week or two will be walking no further than the freezer for his therapeutic frozen peas.

So, like the nineteenth-century Yorkshire explorer Isabella Bird, I ventured alone into the wilds.

Well not to the wilds exactly, but to Ganthorpe which is a very civilised village in the Howardian Hills, and is in a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Ganthorpe has no facilities for the visitor (bar a bench), and nothing flash; all that lies two miles to the east at Castle Howard. So, without distraction, with pen and notebook ready, and camera and compass, I set off and soon found a smooth crushed stone track that led after a couple of miles to a lovely viewpoint.

The terrain is shallow valleys, the route follows the contours, enough to make walking easy. The viewpoint brought long sightings to the north, to the moors, and to the west a shaft of sunlight caught the escarpment of the moors and I thought that I could see the haunches of the White Horse at Kilburn. Normally this looks better at a distance but here the nag is seen from its most unflattering angle, a chalky blob, the equine equivalent of 'does my bum look bigger in white?'.

After this I rustled the leaves for a mile along a wood edge, caught a shower and disturbed a very thin looking fox. He, or she, stopped to give me a look and then went into the trees, otherwise my observations of wildlife were limited to magpies and oaks, both unmistakable. The trees will become more noticeable over the next few weeks because, I have heard, the dry summer will bring an especially colourful autumn.

After those woods I turned and came down by more, by Cum Hag Wood. This was nicer than its name, and was followed by a pleasant skirt round Moor Hill where I crossed paths with a group of nine out from York, who looked, like me, to be enjoying themselves. Finally, the return to Ganthorpe was along a chain of pretty ponds connected by clear streams.

Directions:

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

1. From dead-end village road, right to Terrington road, bungalow, 50 yards, field-edge track on right (signed).

2. Left at gateposts to verge between fields then pick up hedge to left. Gate on left, right to path. Right to road and immediately right to road (signed Castle Howard, verge).

3. At right-hand bend, track on left uphill (Howthorpe Farm).

4. On crest of hill join track on right.

5. Pass three-way signpost,150 yards, clear path on right for 200 yards (unsigned), right to road, 25 yards, gate on left to wood/field-edge path (signed Ganthorpe).

6. Gate and right by fence, left-hand corner, 50 yards, cross field to fieldgate to left of trees, pass trees, fence to left for 100 yards, metal gate to path by stream to Ganthorpe.

Fact file:

Distance: Less than four miles.

Time: Two hours.

General location: Howardian Hills.

Start: Ganthorpe.

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

Date walked: Saturday, October 4, 2003.

Road route: From York, via Terrington or Castle Howard.

Car parking: Roadside.

Lavatories: None.

Refreshments: None. Nearest caf at Terrington.

Tourist & public transport information: Malton TIC 01653 600048

Map: Based on OS Explorer 300 Howardian Hills and Malton.

Terrain: Small hills and valleys.

Points of interest: Botanist Richard Spruce (1817-1893) was born at Ganthorpe. He was a great traveller and plant collector. Rare Ryedale blue tiles on Ganthorpe House.

Difficulty: Easy.

Dogs: Suitable.

Weather forecast: Evening Press and recorded forecast 0891 500 418

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: 16:43 Friday, October 10, 2003