Too Old Codgers

Statistics:
distance - 15.3 miles
moving speed – 3.3 mph
start – 9.00 am
finish – 4.30 pm
moving – 4h 37m

Graham had his usual cooked breakfast and Mary had scrambled eggs with smoked salmon on a muffin. We were on our way at 9am under a bright blue sky.

We had decided to detour via Easby Abbey. Below St Mary's church we were examining the map looking for the lane to Easby Abbey. A passing resident gave us directions, told us to watch for the views back to the castle, and left with a smile. We followed a shady lane to Easby Abbey, another impressive ruin, then a quiet road, a path across fields, and the verge of the busy B6271 to Brompton-on-Swale. We detoured around bridge works, then rejoined the C2C.

'St Mary's church, Richmond'

'Easby Abbey ruins'

'Crossing a sunny field'

'On the verge of the very busy B6271'

We followed the Swale for another mile, our last sight of the river after three days of walking beside it. We crossed fields to Bolton-(not)on-Swale and paused for morning tea in the churchyard, another St Mary's. From there we decided to follow the off-road route to Danby Wiske shown on the Harvey map so the walking would be easier on our feet. We had no trouble finding the route along farm tracks, along paths beside or across fields, and a few brief sections on roads. We stopped for lunch on a little bridge over Rawcar Beck, giving Mary a chance to put new dressings on her feet. Lunch from the B&B was a decidedly healthy affair, with a raw carrot but no chocolates, cakes or crisps – we preferred the unhealthy versions! As we put our packs on to resume walking, a kingfisher flew under the bridge.

'Our last sight of the Swale, and the beginning of autumn colours'

'Approaching St Mary's church, Bolton on Swale'

'The off-road route to Danby Wiske'

As we crossed more fields we noticed the clay soil was deeply cracked because of the dry weather. A young farmer clearing plant debris from his plough told us the clay had to dry to work it properly. Preparing the soil during the very wet season in 2012 had resulted in damage to the soil structure.

'Crossing another field'

'Deeply cracked dry clay soil'

We reached Danby Wiske at 3.30 so stopped for a drink at the pub, which now seemed to be functioning more efficiently than in 2010. The Gun Dog Bitter was very bitter, but enjoyable. From Danby Wiske we walked along the road to our B&B, with some interesting trees silhouetted against the horizon. We arrived at the Barn at 4.30 and chatted with the landlady over tea and biscuits. The B&B was a barn conversion. The strange circular kitchen/ diner was the area in the barn where horses or donkeys walked a circular path driving a mill.

'The Swan, Danby Wiske'

'Trees silhouetted against the setting sun'

'The Barn B&B'

'Rural view from the window of our B&B'

We went up to our room to shower. The view out of the window of rural Yorkshire was beautiful. The landlady drove us to a large, modern pub on the outskirts of Northallerton for dinner. We had the usual pub fare but without any charm. After dinner we phoned the B&B for a lift back, but got no answer. So we walked back, and still got to bed by 8.30.

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