The snow made for a magical walk just out of Pickering, leaving George Wilkinson happily alone in a sea of white.

THE snow came and so not to miss out on the fun, I popped along to Aislaby, a mile from Pickering, and took one of the numerous tracks that lead north from the A170 and up on to the foothills of the North York Moors.

Shop Lane the track is called. Soon it deepened into a sheltered sunken path. The birds flitted and the sunlight filtered through the overhanging branches. It was easy and lovely.

After half a mile of climbing, the path levelled and the landscape opened out, there were drifts a couple of feet deep at gaps and gateways. Then, without a warning, a blizzard hit.

I sheltered under a hedge, pulled on the maximum of clothing, packed away my camera and put my head down into the storm and plodded on for the next mile. Visibility was low, luckily the route is simple.

At five hundred feet up on Middleton Heights, I chewed my semi-frozen Mars Bar and crunched back down on Middleton Lane, which is a dead-end road servicing one farm and one-hotel-cum restaurant.

There was life, but not much. The snowfall had died out, a heron and a flock of fieldfares put in an appearance. The landscape was beautiful, the hedges and trees black against a sky of pale grey and the fields all white.

There is a memorial view bench but this was no use on the day. Further down, a Pickering church spire was first to show, and I didn't see the tower of Middleton's church until almost upon it.

So that was my little adventure, but for you, for everyday, to extend the route and because there is not much parking in Middleton, we went up a few days later to the site of the Roman Camp at Cawthorne. Here there is parking under the pines and 2,000-year-old interest including a one mile trail around the camp.

Fact File:

Distance: Six miles.

Time: Three hours.

General location: Southern foothills of the North York Moors.

Start: Car park at Cawthorne Roman Camp.

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

Date walked: Wednesday January 28 and Saturday January 31, 2004.

Road route: North from the A170 at Wrelton, to Cropton. After the New Inn, right through Cropton, road signed to Sutherland and Newton.

Car parking: Signed and free at Roman Camp site.

Lavatories: None.

Refreshments: The Middleton Arms en route.

Tourist and public transport information: Pickering TIC 01751 473791.

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

Terrain: Farmland slopes.

Points of interest: Life And Letters On The Roman Frontier is a new book by Alan K Brown published by the British Museum Press at £12.99. Apparently "the officers and soldiers... were well fed and well clothed", an overcoat cost them 13 denarii and a thong 2.

Difficulty: Moderate, muddy in places.

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.

Directions:

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

1. From car park, track to road, right, 200 yards, track on left (signed bridleway). Fieldgate to grassy track, fieldgate, 'reinstated' path over field. Track.

2. Ignore track to right, 20 yards, left at Y junction to track, 200 yards, metalled dead-end road.

3. Right to road round back of houses, right to A170 pavement to Aislaby. Right to track/path before first house (signed 'unsuitable for motors'). Sunken path then open path by hedge to left.

4. Wide, hedged track on left, 100 yards, right to tree-lined track (bridleway sign).

5. Ignore arrow to left, a more open area, hedge/fence on left, 200 yards to wood, keep wood to left, field 'margin' path, becomes track. Rejoin outward route.

Click here to view a map of the walk

Updated: 09:07 Saturday, February 07, 2004