Route: Hackness and Broxa
Area: North Yorkshire
Date of walk: 27th February 2015
Walkers: Andrew
Distance: 6.3 miles
Weather: Perfect
It was the last day of our stay at Derwent View Hackness and we awoke to a glorious morning. I made an early start from the cottage and shortly after leaving the village crossed over the River Derwent via the footbridge near Wrench Green (anyone not staying at Derwent View could start the walk by parking near the village hall or St Peter’s Church)
There wasn’t a cloud in the sky and the low early morning sun cast a golden light over the countryside as I walked along the bank of the Derwent – it was a magical section of the walk, with dippers and wagtails darting across the river, and songbirds serenading me as I went along. Kingfishers may be seen here too, if you keep a sharp lookout
All too soon I arrived at Estell Lane and followed the lane in the direction of Troutsdale for a short distance, before heading uphill along a track to the right. The height gained was soon lost as I descended to Bridge Farm, and there followed a steep climb up Broxa Banks. At the top of the hill I walked along the lane into Broxa and turned right at Broxa Farm to walk along the Rigg. The tabular nature of these hills only shows itself once the tops are reached and the surrounding countryside is quite flat and featureless – but lovely all the same
After reaching the end of Broxa Rigg at Hackness Head, I followed the track through the woods which took me back down to the cottage. It was a wonderful walk in wonderful weather
For other walks here, visit my Find Walks page and enter the name in the ‘Search site’ box
Click on the icon below for the route map (subscribers to OS Maps can view detailed maps of the route, visualise it in aerial 3D, and download the GPX file. Non-subscribers will see a base map)
Scroll down – or click on any photo to enlarge it and you can then view as a slideshow
Looking back to Hackness as I walk out of the village
I cross the footbridge over the River Derwent
I follow the path beside the river for the next couple of miles
Along the way I pass three old stone barns, which look beautiful in the early morning light
The second of the three barns
I walk past Derwent View, where I’d started from - the River Derwent is between us, hence the earlier detour to the footbridge
The third of the barns
Walking beside the Derwent
Looking across to Broxa Rigg, which I’ll be walking along on the return leg
The footbridge serving Wood House
All too soon the riverside section ends at the bridge on Estell Lane - this is looking towards Hilla Green Farm
I follow Estell Lane towards Troutsdale before turning right here to head uphill
Backleys Wood
Looking across over Troutsdale
Descending back to valley level before the climb up to Broxa Rigg ahead
Further along the path
The path takes me through Bridge Farm, centre of picture, before heading uphill
Howden Hill
Lovely old bridge before Bridge Farm
Howden Hill again as I start the climb up Broxa Banks to Broxa Rigg
I join a bridleway
On Broxa Rigg
Further along the Rigg
Just before Hackness Head, I leave the Rigg to descend into Chapman Banks Wood
Almost back to the start
Looking over the Derwent to the first of the three barns I’d passed at the start of the walk
Back to the start at Derwent View
Angler opposite the cottage at the end of the walk
