Forest clump

A larch is but a larch... a fir is but a fir, but the other week I did a day's course at Dalby Forest on identifying trees in winter. Now I'm back to show off. I jest, because my experiences on the walk reminded me that 'a little knowledge is a dangerous thing', so I shall remain vague.

I started walking in rain, then sun, then rain, up Dalby Beck. More bushy-topped trees than pointed ones. There is a purple haze of birch saplings on the slope and red, red oak leaves the size of plates underfoot. Rainbows bridged the valley.

We cross Dalby Beck, clear as a spring, and start a two-mile climb, steep only at first. We are heading for the essential Dalby, the big blocks of conifers.

It's good on the top, a sloping plateau of a rigg. The route takes you gently up and up to 700 feet. The height brings views over young spruce to distant moorland headlands. The north wind sounded best in the fine, tall pines. A crow surveyed a felled block from a thoughtfully-left, but ravaged, Battle of the Somme-style trunk. The huge forest is a paradise for wildlife (depending if it eats trees). On a Friday it was almost empty of people. One car in the carpark, a couple slowly pedalling with their dog on a family cycle trail, footprints of another couple and dog on the track, the snake of a mountain bike tread. At weekends Dalby is a visitors' playground, where more money can be made from the tourists than the trees.

I'd hoped for the tang of fresh pine on overnight white, but the snow had gone except for half an inch on the stumps. A dry stump made a sandwich stop.

You can wander here. The Forestry Commission have a relaxed attitude to visitors, hardly a 'don't' sign anywhere.

So from the top I have given two options down. One, tall trees and typically direct wide track, the other a single file grassy path through woodland, with bare beech, bare larch and a hint of House Dale.

Back down, you have half a mile of tree identity promenade but not many of the specimens are labelled.

I fancy another course here. The commission's summertime nocturnal hunt for the nightjar sounded fun.

DIRECTIONS

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

1. From Longstay Car Park, right to Forest Drive, over stream, path on right uphill into wood (yellow waymark post, 25 yards before T-junction), 50 yards, right to track.

2. Right fork in wood, downhill (waymarked post), stile/fieldgate into field, track. Fork right downhill by fence in front of house, snicklegate on right (by cattlegrid) and uphill through garden on drive (signed private, High Dalby House), right and cross grass above house, pass log store, snicklegate out of garden.

3. Cross road to track (to High Rigg Farm).

4. Gate/fieldgate and forest edge track, 200 yards, right at T-junction.

5. At four-way tracks junction by field corner, take second left. Cross tarmac forestry road, 200 yards, track on right downhill.

6. Pass entrance on left to disused quarry (signed no tipping or dumping, forestry gate) in mature conifer wood, 100 yards, roughish grassy track on right at edge of wood (old painted mark on tree), left to valley edge path (50 yards before tarmac forestry road).

Route option: Stay on track after quarry (6), take first proper stone track on right, 50 yards, track swings sharp left.

7. At four-way junction, path on right downhill (if you have taken the route option, this path is straight on downhill from a left-hand bend on the track). Stay on path downhill, right at T-junction at bottom of valley and forest track back to Low Dalby.

FACT FILE

Distance: Five miles.

Time: Two and a half hours.

Start: Low Dalby.

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

Date walked: November 19.

Road route: Low Dalby is on the Forest Drive which starts a mile-and-a-half up the road which runs north from the middle of Thornton-le-Dale. Toll £1.50 in winter.

Parking: Free car park.

Lavatories: Car park and by visitor centre.

Refreshments: Kiosk usually open at weekends in winter if weather good.

Tourist & public transport info: Pickering TIC 01751 473791

Map: Based on OS Outdoor Leisure North York Moors eastern area, No 27.

Terrain: One climb, mostly good track.

Footwear: Walking boots.

Points of interest: Forest and trees.

Difficulty: Moderate.

Dogs: Suitable for dogs.

Weather forecast: Evening Press and recorded forecast 0891 500 418

Please observe the Country Code and park sensibly. Every effort is made to provide accurate information, but walkers set out at their own risk.

Click here to view a map of the walk