Ten of us left Wensley on a lovely morning and took familiar and well-trodden field paths due East, by-passing Leyburn, across the ancient sunken Low Wood Lane, then a coffee stop looking across to Pen Hill.
We passed through Harmby this time without diverting to see its lovely waterfall – considered not worth the detour following such a long dry spell. Briefly following the track to Throstle Nest Farm, we dropped down to reach the banks of the Ure for a pleasant and picturesque lunch break, accompanied by a kite overhead, and later, saw a pair of redshanks in the muddy remains of a shrinking pond.
We soon briefly joined the main road to cross Middleham bridge, built in 1830 by public subscription, with its ornate stone towers which originally carried chains holding up a suspended bridge deck. The deck collapsed shortly after the bridge was built when a herd of cattle failed to “break stride” as is the custom for marching soldiers to prevent starting a destructive swaying motion. The present solid deck replaced this in 1865 leaving the stone towers and their buttresses standing impressive but now redundant at each end.
Turning right, after crossing the bridge, we followed a vehicle track running parallel to the South bank of the river, but soon joined a pleasant path along the bank itself above a very low river. Heading back towards Wensley, after about a mile, looking left, in the distance, we could see a lone dead tree with a flat top: the site of an ospreys’ nest for the last few years. We could see no sign of the majestic birds themselves. No doubt away fishing, probably at Leighton or one of the other reservoirs further South, rather than on the Ure – currently at a very low level – which I suspect would be too shallow for the osprey to risk plunging in after fish from a great height.
We were left now with just a short stroll to arrive back at Wensley after a very enjoyable and leisurely 6 mile walk.
Richard Wright.