Wrelton village was rescued a few years ago from the roar of the A170 by a bypass.
The petrol station has shut, the pub remains, and a quiet has descended on the old stone houses and triangular greens. I had been enticed by a thread of darker green on the OS map, Beadale Wood. It fills a narrow, straight northern-reaching groove of valley.
It fills but does not choke. The ash trees stretch and stretch to the light, forming a delicate airy cathedral of canopy, trapping the aroma of summer turned to autumn, the sweetest of micro-climates.
After a while we double back up to the brightness of the valley rim on an old track and emerge to the views.
To the northern quarter, emptiness, stubble and wall, country neither lowland nor moor, and to the south, the Vale of Pickering.
On today's route you'll see many a sign of ground-nesting birds. Ground-nesting birds are definitely the in thing. Here there are partridges.
We check sideways, east, and then connect with another admirable northern route, Straights Lane, straight as its name and a fine track, and as the wood, rising so gently you hardly notice. A good snow trek I'd imagine. You pass scrubby wood, an only farm, it's peaceful, tiny vehicles glint above the Hole of Horcum miles away, the dark of Cropton Forest looms ahead, and to come, the expected tranquillity of back-road Tarmac.
So I was a bit irritated, as I reached turnaround time, at the sound of what I took to be a couple of boy racers. And then some more. Oh no! A rally, and a serious one, and on route. Therefore no eulogies on Cawthorne Lane, its qualities blasted from my mind, so much for the views south etc. I can hardly write about orange sunsets because I was totally concerned about not being written off by a racing car.
Obviously I made it, eventually (actually the serious drivers were mainly courteous), and with relief re-entered Beadale Wood at an arbour of ripe elderberries.
The top end of the wood is more overgrown, but OK, then the best bit again.
DIRECTIONS
When in doubt look at the map. Check your position at each point. Keep straight on unless otherwise directed.
1. From phone box, east through village, Methodist Chapel then track (signed) on left to stile/fieldgate, 100 yards, stile/old fieldgate and immediately right. Stile.
2. Stile into wood and main path until valley begins to flatten out. When old wall is ten yards to right, path on right (old stump), 15 yards, right to clear path diagonally uphill.
3. Emerge from wood to fields. Cross fields by remains of hedge/field boundary on right, straight on at first tracks junction, track dips through old quarry/trees, first track on left (signed bridleway).
4. Track ends at field, old wall/hedge on left for 100 yards then 1 o'clock to edge of wood. Track reappears. At right hand bend (farm to right), fork left to wide grassy track. Straight across field when track stops abruptly for 100 yards then rejoin it. Fieldgate and track downhill through pasture.
5. Fieldgate and left to road, first lane on left (limited verge).
6. Fifty yards after large concrete barn in field to right, cross field on left (bridleway sign by 50 yard gap in hedge, path was not reinstated) by heading roughly straight across for wood, gate into wood (waymark), 50 yards, right to path.
7. Right, fieldedge path behind houses, left to road.
FACT FILE
Distance: Six miles.
Time: Three hours.
Start: Wrelton.
Right of way: The complete route is along public rights of way.
Date walked: Saturday, September 25.
Road route: Wrelton is on the A170 between Kirkbymoorside and Pickering.
Parking: Roadside.
Lavatories: None.
Refreshments: Inn.
Tourist & public transport info: Pickering TIC 01751 473791
Map: Based on OS Outdoor Leisure 27, North York Moors eastern area.
Terrain: Gentle, good surfaces.
Footwear: Walking boots.
Points of interest: Beadale Woods, Straights Lane (track), views.
Difficulty: Moderate/easy.
Dogs: Suitable for dogs (no water) 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:George Wilkinson almost bumped into a rally near Cropton Forest
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