Boxing Day country walk around Kirkbymoorside

10:00am Saturday 26th December 2009

By George Wilkinson

KIRKBYMOORSIDE might, some might say, be shaded by neighbours Helmsley and Pickering in the glamour and attractions stakes.

But, positioned quietly between them, it is indeed a “Gateway to the Moors”, the best one from the south, an identity recently reinforced by the installation of a wooden gate on its A170 roundabout.

Wednesday market day finds it liveliest with locals, fuelled by four pubs and as many cafés. A ‘gem’ writes John Rushton, and in his History of Ryedale details its upcastles- down-castles with 150 references.

I was less than lively, nothing to do with a market day spent in the aforementioned, so my trusty navigator took one of the old routes that fan out north towards the moors and towards the valleys of Bransdale, Farndale and Rosedale.

From the cobbles and marketplace, she strode up Castlegate and its tight terraces of old houses, and then with a blink of a bungalow she was in the Manor Vale Woods. The woods are a treasured ravine, a nature reserve and open access.

The ruined castle stands as a bit of broken wall, caves hide in limestone, and the star tree, an ancient ash tree has its soul and science laid bare. Cut on a 2009 stainless plaque is the order that it is “hereafter to be known as the Manor Ash”.

Thereon footprints were fewer and deep in the snow. She had a dog just for Christmas, borrowed fast and fresh from the Costa-lot del Sol.

Apparently it acclimatised enthusiastically, to draw a white and festive veil on its movements.

The open country was brilliant, the fields a giant mirror gently angled to the sun, a delight of easy welly walking, its being a mile further north to the rough and the heather.

To the side the land slides to popular recreation zones of pheasant woods and golf course.

At High Park Farm, the top of the walk, the views south are splendid, being wide and empty in the near and in the mid-distance and stretching out over Ryedale and beyond.

And the way back down is as easy as the way up, and fine for sunset colours. Otherwise the route bypasses Low Park Farm to feed back into Kirkbymoorside without a fuss.

she said. I looked out to the silvering half light, put a log on the stove and ministered to the snow goddess.

Directions

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

1. From post office in the Market Place, pavement north uphill, 25 yards, cross Tinley Garth, pavement, pass pub and NYCC building, right at mini roundabout (Castlegate, No through road sign), uphill, fork left, tarmac between houses 100 yards, left to track (fingerpost Court Moor Lane), 100 yards, fieldgate by castle remnant (info boards), track/path along top edge of wood.

3. At end of track fieldgate on left and immediately right and pass in front of High Park Farm on concrete track, 200 yards.

4. Fieldgate (waymark far side) and immediately right to fieldedge path, gap by trees.

5. Right to track for 20 yards passing covered reservoir, left to field-edge path with hedge to your right, two successive plank and rail bridges over streams, three successive stiles, rejoin outward route.

Fact file

While every effort is made to provide accurate information, walkers set out at their own risk.