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Swaledale Outdoor Club |
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Swaledale Outdoor Club |
| > Home > Newsletter > Walking > Boxing Day Walk |
Boxing Day Walk39 of us met in Richmond Market Place to work off the over-indulgences of Christmas Day! It was dry and frosty and ideal for walking. Moving off down Cornforth Hill we crossed the Green Bridge turning upstream and passing (King) Arthurs Oven and the old Copper Mine and through pleasant riverside country to Round Howe. Over the bridge we headed for Lownethwaite Farm and Whitcliffe Woods. Less pheasants evident at the end of the shooting season! Along by the river again and then up past Low Applegarth and up Deepdale then onto the top of Whitcliffe Scar - cold wind up here! Lunch in hollow where it felt warmer out of the wind. Along to Willances Leap where the old story of the demise of Robert Willance and his horse was repeated. Moving north we crossed the field, the road and followed the snow covered path by Beacon plantation and the wood beyond. My, how those fir trees grow! Turning east we followed the track behind the Jockey Cap, often breaking through ice to sink calf deep into sticky mud and water beneath. We crossed the road near the Plague Stone (more discussions) and encountered more mud down Gilling Wood - no bluebells now!) then through fields to Gilling Wood Hall and beyond, to Aske Hall. Dusk was approaching and after a few words on the history of the fine building before us we continued crossing the park (laid out by Capability Brown over a century ago), through the wood, more fields and finally the Golf Course before re-entering Richmond, muddy and quite weary. A good 10 miles with excellent company. Thanks, and a happy New Year to all. John Deighton |