Heavy metal

This turned out a day of big bales and big houses - harvest time and architecture in the low country. We take the road out of Goldsborough for a dead two miles, exercise only, a decrepit mill and a bridge the same, the A59, and then a caravan site.

Caravans were once ephemeral objects. Now I see they are rooted to our green and pleasant land by decking. They drive Janet Street-Porter into a 'frenzy'.

I just thought of England as I entered the woods and noted the River Nidd below, and a sight of Knaresborough, from here but a spire on wooded hill.

By now things had improved as the hot dusty farm track led to Plompton Hall. Plompton Rocks are near but I saw only one ordinary rock. Plompton High Grange was next, in ecclesiastical/colonial style with a weather station on the lawn and the jet-howl of grain dryers round the back.

I was halfway through, on more farm track and in the climax of harvest.

I love this, the rush of heavy metal, and watched a red Massey Ferguson combine the groove of footpath through the corn.

We reach Little Ribston and a sensible 'preferred permissive' to avoid a garden, no problem, but I had to don my Sherlock Holmes hat to find my planned way into the grounds of Ribston Hall.

Three tiny holes in a stone wall were evidence of the missing sign. Then comes another garden, a suitable candidate for diversion. But I was in, and exactly positioned for a full frontal of Ribston Hall's main and southern faade. 'Long, low, symmetrical ... dated 1674' says Pevsner; and it looks pleasant and plain, with a lawn down to the River Nidd.

Not pleasant was the very loud bang that made me jump out of my skin. It emanated from a group of young(ish) 'gentlemen' and 'ladies' lolling by the water, and must I am sure have been a firecracker rather than a firearm. A jolly jape indeed.

I reached the cover of the bridge and wolfed my rations, poking my head above the 'parapet' to view the jesters with binoculars. They looked variously furtive, sheepish, or brazen. The sandwich should have put me in mind of matters culinary, for here, since 1707 is the home of the famous Ribston Pippin. Bob Flowerdew suggests 'superb flavour'; more 'acidic than a Cox' says Joan Morgan.

My thoughts were a reaction of acid radicalism as I moved on, and the workers led in the harvest, and I forgot to look out for the fine specimen trees until confronted by a fruiting Oriental Plane. This dispelled my churlishness and the rest of the route through the grounds and lovely farmland was much enjoyed. That is till Goldsborough was reached and where stands a concoction, a Legoland pastiche.

Directions

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

1. From pub, west through village, first left to Midgeley Lane.

2. At left-hand bend, straight on to track by pond (signed). Through farmyard at mill, bridge over River Nidd.

3. Right to main road, left at roundabout (pavement), 50 yards, path on right (signed).

4. Gate to caravan site to track by hedge. Path into wood. Ignore side paths and a right fork towards a field.

5. Cross main road, path by side of wood, right to track at T-junction at edge of wood. Track swings left towards Plompton Hall.

6. Track on right by side of wood (waymarked), left at wood corner, 50 yards, right, 50 yards, fieldgate on left and 11 o'clock through field, fieldgate into trees, left, 20 yards, path on right (waymark), 50 yards, fork left by tree through grassy scrub to gate.

7. One o'clock across field (near Plompton Hall), gate to drive and right for 5 yards, left to farm track.

8. Along hedge drive to Grange, fork left near Grange and skirt outside edge of farm buildings, left to concrete farm track.

9. Right fork to pass in front of farm, through wood, track swings right by pond then left to pass by farmhouse, immediately right to grassy track, swing left by large hedge.

10. Right fork to wood-edge path then straight on across fields. Public right of way goes through garden of last house so signs suggest a 'preferred permissive' way of getting to the road.

11. Left to road, left at T-junction, through village - on the right you will pass a 100-yard stretch of parkland (old fieldgate by corner) and a bus stop in front of a white pebbledash and brick house. Take the drive immediately afterwards on the right, 100 yards, wooden gate into garden and path by side of Garth Cottage (house) leads to gate into park.

12. Eleven o'clock across parkland, left to drive, bridge over River Nidd and straight on.

13. At sharp right-hand bend by 'garden', leave concrete drive and follow railings for 100 yards, fieldgate on left to grass track (sign), 100 yards, track swings right, stile/fieldgate, stile/fieldgate, through wood, fieldgate, track rejoins Midgeley Lane.