11.4 miles.
Explorer Map 300, - Howardian Hills and Malton
A "Figure-of-8" walk in some superb farming
countryside, starting from one of the most picture postcard perfect
villages in North Yorkshire.
The walk takes in thatched cottages, Victorian postboxes, and a 12th
Century church. At the half way point on the walk, the "City of
Troy" is found, - a turfed maze with a somewhat mysterious origin
and of uncertain age.
The walking is generally very straightforward, with gentle gradients
and using a combination of roads, tracks, and field footpaths.
Navigation is helped at every stage by fingerposts and waymarks. There
wasonly one section where navigation proved to be slightly tricky.
On the outward leg the minor road between Hovingham and Terrington was
used. The road proved to be busier than expected, and you might choose
not to use this leg in a future walk.
All in all, though, a thoroughly rewarding walk offering some superb
views.
For a Memory Map overlay of the walk described, please select the above
link.
(Overlay made with Version 4 of Memory Map)
Park in Hovingham village hall car park (SE66776 75659).
Take the road South out of Hovingham (the High Street) and then take
the minor road towards Terrington in a South Westerly direction. Follow
this road for a mile or so (CARE - traffic) until it emerges from Bank
Wood.
Here take the signposted footpath West towards Scackleton. The footpath
joins Scackleton Lane which leads to the village.
Head South East through Scackleton village. Opposite the church there
is a lane that takes youto Dalby Bush Farm.
Pastthe farm buildings, take the waymarked footpath to Dalby.
From Dalby church, go down the lane (Westwards) past some houses, then
take the signposted footpath thatruns parallel to this lane. Continue
across fields, following waymarks, until you come to a minor road leading
to Skewsby village.
Turn right and head uphill to Brow Wood.
on your left, a footpath is signposted. This leads you Northwards to
High Lane. When you reach High Lane, turn left and follow the road for
a short distance until you come to the turf maze of the City of Troy.
Past the City of Troy there is a farm track (Green Lane). Follow this
for a short distance, until you come to the waymarked footpath on your
left that takes you along Mug Dale to Mugdale Wood.
Exit Mugdale Wood at the waymarked track that takes you to Potter Hill
Farm.
From here, follow waymarks on the footpath to Swathgill and eventually
to Scackleton Grange Farm.
From this farm, take the lane, - Grange Lane, to return to Scackleton
village, and then back along Scackleton Lane.
Two fields along this lane, a fingerpost directs you onto the footpath,
- via Lodge Farm, to Hovington Lodge and then via Mill Wood back to
Hovingham.
Where you leave Scackleton Lane to enter Soulby Wood you may find it
difficult to find the waymarks. THis is an area where you can become
slightly lost. The onward footpath out of Soulby Wood to Lodge Farm
is also rather obscure.