This wasn't the plan. Booted up, I'd popped into Kirkby Malzeard's village store for titbits and happened across a leaflet for The Crackpots Mosaic Trail.
It appealed, so I took the back roads up to Tom Corner, a smashing place to start, with purple moors and dales-edge views across the Vale of Mowbray to the Kilburn White Horse and way north to the Cleveland Hills.
At my feet, sheep live and sheep mosaic. The Crackpots' map shows another 21, directions and info. I suppose you could just buy their leaflet, 25p, but as you have already bought the Evening Press, you're stuck with my take on their 1997 circuit which celebrates the designation of Nidderdale as an Area of Outstanding National Beauty. Beautiful certainly summed up today's seven miles around Dallowgill.
Soon came a 'red grouse', then a rather portly 'dragonfly', then an 'adder', and our moorland opener is done. I guess that whatever the season you are bound to see some of the animals and plants artistically captured, and obviously the buildings. Next up, the 'Potato House', and a few yards on, the real thing, cool, dark and semi-subterranean. Following, and in contrast sky bound, the 'Sighting Tower'. This was for checking the levels of the tunnel that supplies Harrogate with water.
We move on to rich green valley, pass a pretty 'wild rose', a 'greater spotted woodpecker' in vibrant shards of monochrome, and further along, a somewhat unsteady 'Friesian cow'. A West Riding couple were bemused by a 'pineapple', in fact 'flag iris and tadpoles'. A 'brown trout' lurked at a ford, 'leaves' reflected verge-side trees, and back on open ground, a 'curlew' drew the eye to the moors. The mosaics are placed with landscape empathy, not hidden but not over-obvious.
Along the next mile you get a view of the day's terrain. 'Boots and beer' was nearly missed, accelerating to the Drover's Inn.
'Bluebells' have long withered but harebells are out, and it's a mite early for 'fungi'.
We are down in the woods.
I didn't see 'deer' but a dragonfly flitted from trunk to trunk. Conifers give way to gorgeous old oaks, rabbits furry and rabbits ceramic are on the pastures. There are more mosaics than I can mention.
My preference is for the ones with no painted portions, and these will weather best. Everyone will have a favourite, mine the jazzy woodpecker by Sue Swales. Many thanks to Sue Swales.
DIRECTIONS
When in doubt look at the map. Check your position at each point. Keep straight on unless otherwise directed.
Road downhill from car park, first track on left (signed, Hawsett House), ignore right turns to farm and conifers, ford, uphill, 200 yards.
Fieldgate on right, track, walled track.
Fork left and pass Low Farm (teas), through farmyard, pass barn, fieldgate on left, walled track to Sighting Tower. Return to fork and downhill.
Left to road, uphill, 200 yards, path on right downhill, footbridge by ford, fieldgate and track uphill to 'cow' mosaic, and fieldgate and hedged track left and downhill. Track on right (100 yards before gate and ford and note, if muddy after about 100 yards, return to track junction and bypass mud via field on left, fieldgate in, stile out). Footbridge and ford ('brown trout'), track swings right uphill.
Left to road, right at T-junction (signed Pateley Bridge), pass pub, at left-hand bend turn right (signed dead-end lane),Tarmac changes to track, left-hand bend, pass cottages.
Fieldgate, fieldgate, 25 yards, fork right, fieldgate into wood, footbridge by ford, 20 yards, right ('deer'), 50 yards, footbridge by bridge and right uphill, out of wood.
At right-hand bend, stile/fieldgate on left and 11o'clock across field, fieldgate back into wood and right to path.
Gate out of wood and straight on with wall to left, gate, gate, pass house, gate by barn, cross field, gateway, gate by barn, public right of way should be alongside buildings but blocked by new plantation, so jink right and left (via fieldgate in wire fence) to red metal fieldgate. Continue with wall to left, stepping stones, gate, 1 o'clock across field then by wall on right to gate in corner, gateway by barn, gateway (ignore stile on right).
Gate and right to track uphill, right-hand bend, old fieldgate ('pheasant'), and grassy track (becomes sunken), uphill, fieldgate to moor, track, right to road.
FACT FILE
Distance: Seven miles.
Time: Three hours.
Start: Tom Corner. Grid Ref: 180726
Right of way: The complete route is along public rights of way. Date walked: Sunday, August 221999.
Road route: Various. Three miles westsouthwest of Kirkby Malzeard.
Parking: Free car park (gravelled area with Roman soldier mosaic).
Lavatories: None.
Refreshments: Pub and farm-made teas on route.
Tourist & public transport info: Harrogate TIC 01423 537300.
Map: Based on OS Explorer 26, Nidderdale and Crackpots map.
Terrain: Mostly track. Gentle hills. Footwear: Walking boots.
Points of interest: Mosaics, views.
Difficulty: Moderate.
Dogs: Suitable for dogs but keep on leads or under close control.
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.
PICTURE:The Sighting Tower used to check water supplies to Harrogate
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