Adder boy

AT THE time of writing, a big chunk of Dalby Forest is available to walkers. On the first day of reopening, I turned up expecting armies of the booted raring to stretch their legs. So it was a surprise to find only three cars and barely half a dozen of the anoracked.

The woman at the info centre thought that perhaps the restrictions on dogs (must be on leads) had something to do with it. I'm not so sure, but maybe by the time you read this the place will be humming, though maybe not, as the foot and mouth near Whitby does not bode well.

I checked which zones I could walk, bought tickets for the Levellers June 1 gig in 'The Great Yorkshire Forest' and then cruised off down the half-opened Forest Drive to the Staindale Lakes. These may be your start, depending on which car parks are open, you may have to ad-lib a little. I found a place in the little car park by the Adder Stone, pulled on my super clean and shiny boots and admired the rock.

The Adder Stone is a fair lump, pockmarked and lichen splattered, the size of a tank and shaped like a squat Bridestone. Adders, be there any, will still be hibernating. Nearby is a dubious spiral sculpture, a little further on a cheerful planting of giant wooden sunflowers. These were the only flowers out except for the marsh marigolds. Elders are leafing up, pussy willows and catkins quietly suggested spring, the season is a bit late.

Our route loops round the edge of a rigg, so there are some nice views into valleys, though the distance was misty. Pine trees stand proud against the sky and silver birch saplings are abundant.

You will come across an interesting structure that an info board explains is an old rabbit trap. Low walls enclose an area about the size of two table tennis tables and a hole in the ground. A diagram explains how, with a complexity of socket, wedge and trapdoor, the bunnies were captured, thousands for their skins for felt hats.

This distracted me from the eerie quiet for a minute then I reached the southern corner of the circuit. I had intended to do a longer walk, but the 30-mile jump of foot and mouth to Whitby had spooked me a bit, so I decided to stick to the waymarked circuit, with no chance of straying into forbidden zones. Also this little effort will be a suitable family toddle for this Easter weekend. And again, the thought crossed my mind that one might, of necessity, be back at Dalby rather a lot this summer so rationing may be sensible.

Next comes Cow and Gate Wood, a 1991 promotion by the manufacturers of baby slurp, planted in aspen, hazel, wild cherry and small-leafed lime. Appropriately or otherwise, these limes can, if coppiced, live for many thousands of years.

Any remnant of infant energy can be exhausted on a clamber over rustic playground structures. A plaque describes our route as a 'moderate muscle stretcher'. I have been on the bike these last weeks, which tightens up the hamstrings a little, whereas walking stretches them, so despite the short distance I could feel it.

Last you negotiate a network of pretty paths through heather and bilberry to come out at some sculptured balls. Nearby a slim wood statue of a pensive William de Dalby stands overlooking the Staindale Lakes. He has a scooped out tree trunk chair accessible to those whose backsides haven't broadened overmuch during our enforced lay off.

Directions:

When in doubt look at the map. Check your position at each point. Keep straight on unless otherwise directed. Route is mostly waymarked by white arrows on yellow background.

1. Into parking area by Adder Stone (large rock), left at Adder Stone to path, 100 yards, cross road, track (waymark and sunflower sculptures). Stay on this track with hillside dropping away to your right.

2. Left to main track, uphill.

3. Rabbit trap, 100 yards, first of two paths on left (waymark) and gravel path uphill for 100 yards.

4. Cross road, cross field (adventure play area and picnic tables) to wood (Adder Stone route info), left to path through wood, 100 yards to waymark. Instead of following main track down hill which was muddy, left fork to path after ten yards, ignore left fork after ten yards that goes back to road. 150 yards, left at T-junction, 50 yards, right, 150 yards, T-junction, right, 50 yards to sculptured stones, (right for 50 yards to figure sculpture) or left to path to Adder Stone.

Fact File:

Distance: One and a half miles, or two if you park at lake.

Time: An hour.

General location: North York Moors.

Start: See car parking.

Right of way: The complete route is in open access area.

Date walked: Saturday, April 7, 2001.

Road route: North of the A170 at Thornton-le-Dale, right turn after one and a half miles. At the moment this is the only access to the Dalby Forest Drive. Entrance charge £1.50 (less than half price due to restrictions).

Car parking: Free. Either small park by Adder Stone, larger one nearby (probably closed due to wet ground), or at Staindale Lake, check at visitors' centre.

Lavatories: Visitors' centre and Staindale Lake.

Refreshments: Kiosk at visitors' centre.

Tourist & public transport information: Dalby Visitor Centre 01751 460295 or Pickering TIC 01751 473791.

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

Terrain: Forested rigg.

Points of interest: Open during foot and mouth crisis. Levellers gig June 1, Jools Holland June 2nd, tickets O1751 477022 or 460295. Sculptures.

Difficulty: Easy, good surfaces.

Dogs: Must be kept on leads due to foot and mouth.

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