title="Eskdaleside cum Ugglebarnby Parish Council in North Yorkshire">

Walks  »  Community Access Project


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Walk #1  Community Access Project

This circular 5 mile route includes a steep climb and has good views of Sleights, please note, it is not wheelchair friendly.

Leaving “Whinn Green” cross Iburndale Beck via the small footbridge on to the original access drive to Lowdale Hall,

Note - The stone post on the Right just after the bridge which once supported a gate leading to a Ford, some of the Ford sets can still be seen.

Continue along the hedge lined drive to the gate; bear Left across the new drive and through another gate leading behind the stone barns.

Continue to the next gate, then bear Right follow the path to the Left of the fence.

Note – Lowdale Hall was originally a Farm stead predating the 1600’s and rebuilt as Lowdale Hall in 1851 for Christopher Holt Appleby, Master Mariner. A bell above the rear entrance is most likely from one of his ships and the various varieties of non-indigenous tress came from his worldwide travels. The original access drive and ford at Whinn green were abandoned in the early 1900’s when a new drive was constructed together with a brick built bridge over the stream,  known locally as “Echo Hill Bridge”.

Cresting the small rise bear Left for approx 50m then turn Right down to the small wooden footbridge, cross the bridge and commence the climb to “Battle Bank Woods”, pass through a small gate and follow the well- worn path through the wood. Pass through another gate into a field and follow the path, with the hedge to your Right, then through the kissing gate and then Left for 20m onto the road.

Walk approx 200m on the road towards Ugglebarnby, then turn Right along “Tom Bells Lane”, signed Community Access.

Note - In 2012 Tom Bells lane was brought back into usable condition by the NYMNP staff and volunteers funded by Yorkshire Forward. Previously the lane was completely overgrown and undrained making it virtually impassable in wet weather. Now the way is well drained with the hedges cut back and a good surface laid. If you look to the Left of the new stoned way you will still see the original stone sets.

Follow Tom Bells lane heading South toward Littlebeck for approx 1/3 mile.

Look out for a kissing gate into a field on the Right hand side. Pass through the gate and then descend towards Sleights through 4 fields passing through gates which must be kept closed. Take care if you have a dog and there is stock in the fields. When you pass through the gate into the second field, head towards the large tree in the middle of the field and you will then see the small kissing gate. Through this gate turn Right and follow the hedge. After the next gate, head diagonally across the field towards the white house, then through the gate. At the bottom of this last field turn Left to a stile, then along a short path to a second stile.

Note - Whilst descending into Iburndale observe the views over the valley to Sleights, Blue Bank and up to Littlebeck, observe the man made earth works in the landscape below Blue Bank where exploratory drifts mines were dug looking for Ironstone in the 1850’s the Ironstone seam which was extensively mined along Eskdaleside to Grosmont was not successfully mined beyond Caley Beck on Eskdaleside.

You have now joined the path leading to Littlebeck. Bear Right, pass the old corn mill then Left to join the tarmac road, cross the road bridge and then immediately turn Right to join the footpath which follows Iburndale Beck back to your starting point.

For a longer walk continue along Tom Bells Lane from the kissing gate for 1/2 mile, then as the lane turns Left up to Dene Hall bear Right onto Seggmire Lane, the original paved route to Throstle nest Mill.

Note - Seggymire Lane was extensively drained, vegetation cut back and the path surfaced in 2013. This work was also completed by NYMNP funded by Yorkshire Forward, following years of damage caused by motorcycles and 4 x 4 vehicles. The parish council also contributed £700 towards the improvement works. Motor vehicles are now prohibited from using the lane.

The lane descends steeply to Throstle Nest where the path turns Left over a footbridge crossing Iburndale Beck heading towards Littlebeck or Right over the stile/gate.

Follow the well worn path across the fields heading back to Sleights.

The last field has a stile into a small wooded area near the beck.

Note - This was the location of a damn and sluice gate creating a mill pond for Iburndale corn mill.

Continue along the edge of the stream, leaving by some steps, then follow the old mill race into Iburndale crossing another stile and exiting in to Mill Lane at a kissing gate to rejoin the shorter route.

The original trods along this lane are in good condition but may be slippery when wet - there is better grip on the resurfaced path.

We hope you enjoy these circular routes

(written by Cllr D Tate 2014)

 

Page last updated: 23 July, 2022