GEORGE WILKINSON enjoys his favourite outing so far this year
The wild Farndale daffodils are early again. Looking good for late March was predicted on the Daffy Watch website. Ridiculously early according to Mr Dobson, who has the little Post Office and the giant car park at the hamlet of Low Mill.
As I tied up my boots he told me how April 17 used to be the day, and how you would get three good weeks of the famous lent lilies.
Well I wouldn't bank on mid-April, and as for Easter, that's way in the future. Go now. The Met Office long-range forecast up till the second of April is mild or very mild. This will bring the plants on. Also on Sunday April 2 is the earliest Daffodil Bus.
The first of these buses should catch the show no problem. Otherwise, perversely, one drives up there, does one's bit for global warming, thereby making the flowers even more premature.
A steady stream of daff fans headed for the easiest of strolls up river. However, we are going up and away into the emptiness of Farndale West, to earn our yellow pleasure. A sunny day helped to ensure my favourite outing this year.
The climb is brilliant and expectant, long and gentle, angled up the steepness to the edge of Bransdale. We are in a side valley that you don't see from the main axis of Farndale, a roadless quiet, a place of stream and pale grasses, sphagnum moss, crags, heather and seas of bilberry. Catch this country in sunshine and there are lots of sunbathing spots just off route, which is allowable because as you reach the heather you have moved into open access area.
After ten minutes on the tops along the main Rudland Rigg track, we descend on a sound, stone highway (now closed to damaging motor traffic). An easy way down that takes the eye further up Farndale's western fork.
All that's left, after tea at the Daffy Caf in High Mill, are the classic daffs glowing in the perfect meanders of the River Dove. No solid yellow when I first did it but already a procession of daff fans.
DIRECTIONS
When in doubt look at the map. Check your position at each point. Keep straight on unless otherwise directed.
Right to road from Village Hall, track on left (signed BW Rudland Rigg, Horn End Farm).
Fieldgate by farmhouse and straight on to track, pass barn, (fieldgates, some waymarks). Stile/fieldgate and fork left down to stream.
Footbridge, left, ten yards, uphill by wall, stile/fieldgate on left (BW sign) and track at one o'clock uphill, broken wall and right (signpost), track.
Gateway to moor and one o'clock to grassy area to right of small gully then path diagonally uphill.
Right at tracks crossroads to main Rudland Rigg track, half a mile, right at first tracks crossroads (circular highways sign), fieldgate into field, fieldgate and right to road.
Straight on at road junction, stile on left into field, downhill (signed, just before view bench), stile.
Footbridge over river, stile/fieldgate and right to track, surfaced path most of way from High Mill to Low Mill (easy gates).
FACT FILE
Distance: Six miles.
Time: Three hours.
Start: Low Mill, Farndale.
Right of way: The complete route is along public rights of way.
Date walked: Sunday, March 12, 2000. Daffodils checked again Thursday, March 16, 2000.
Road route: From the A170 via Hutton-le-Hole or Gillamoor, or Daffodil Bus.
Car parking: Car park, 50p.
Lavatories: By village hall.
Refreshments: Daffy Caf at High Mill, pub nearby.
Tourist and public transport information: Helmsley TIC 01439 770173 and Daffy Watch website: www.north-yorkshire-moors.freeserve.co.uk
Daffodil Bus: Shuttle service every 15 minutes from Hutton-le-Hole to Farndale. Sundays from April 2 to 23, also Good Friday, Easter Saturday, Easter Sunday and Easter Monday. For timetable call 01845 597426, e-mail info@northyorkmoors-npa.gov.uk or see website: www.countrygoer.org
Longer-distance Moorsbus services from Hull, Beverley, York, Darlington, Stockton, Middlesbrough, Guisborough, Scarborough, Pickering and Malton. All-day fares within the moors area are a maximum of £2.50 per person, or £5 for a family of up to two adults and four children. Fares from further afield are a maximum of £5 per person (£10 family ticket).
Map: Based on OS Outdoor Leisure 26, North York Moors western area.
Terrain: Farndale's valley floor and western flank.
Footwear: Walking boots.
Points of interest: Daffodils. Views.
Difficulty: moderate. High Mill to Low Mill, very easy.
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. Every effort is made to provide accurate information, but walkers set out at their own risk.
PICTURE:Visit the daffs on the shuttle service
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