Route: Forge Valley and Raincliffe Woods
Area: North Yorkshire
Date of walk: 16th May 2017
Walkers: Andrew and Gilly
Distance: 3.1 miles
Ascent: 400 feet
Weather: Mostly cloudy
As we drove along Forge Valley we couldn’t fail to notice the huge swathes of wild garlic growing on the banks by the roadside, and we decided to feature these in a walk. We parked at the Green Gate car park on the edge of Raincliffe Woods and followed the nature trail which leads along Forge Valley and into Forge Valley Woods
Before long we were greeted by the sight – and scent – of countless wild garlic. We followed the trail through the woods, admiring the amazing display as we did so, and then arrived at the valley road. We had various options here and chose to walk back up the valley along the road, since the display here was especially impressive
We were soon back at Green Gate and from here set off and the track known as Middle Road. We didn’t have time to walk its full length to Throxenby Mere, and so about half way along we climbed up to join Lady Mildred’s Ride, a track named after the daughter of the first Earl of Londesborough. This took us back through the woodland at a higher level
We descended down a narrow path to rejoin Middle Road and from there retraced our steps back to the start. A pleasant stroll in the woods at any time of year, but made special today by the wild garlic
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The start of the walk from Green Gate car park
We head along Forge Valley in search of wild garlic, which didn't take long...
We enter Forge Valley Woods, where the display continues...
The path descends to the Forge Valley road and continues further along the valley...
...but we decide to follow the valley road instead, where the wild garlic is growing in profusion...
Birdwatcher's car park, where a variety of woodland birds may be seen, using the car as a hide (see the final photos)
We arrive back at Green Gate and follow the main track, known as Middle Road, into Raincliffe Woods
The bluebells are starting to go over
Bracket fungus
We arrive back at the start
We stop the car at nearby Birdwatcher's car park, which we'd walked by earlier - a nuthatch soon appears
Marsh tit or willow tit - so alike that they were thought to be the same species at one time
