Route: Hackness to West Ayton and back
Area: North York Moors
Date of walk: 14th February 2013
Walkers: Andrew
Distance: 9.7 miles
Ascent: 1,000 feet
We drove to Derwent View Hackness in thick fog and drizzle and I entertained thoughts of abandoning the planned walk. However, when we emerged from Forge Valley on the approach to the cottage, we were miraculously greeted by blue skies and sunshine and it was game on!
I walked along the valley intending to use the boardwalk along Forge Valley but the ground was saturated and there was ground mist, so I made a spot decision to take the higher route above Forge Valley, so as to stay in the sun and keep my boots dry. The path above the valley took me all the way to the outskirts of West Ayton.
I then walked along deserted tracks and paths through Yedmandale, into Wykeham Forest and back to Hackness.
It was a beautiful day, especially in the light of my earlier low expectations.
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)
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Leaving Derwent View Hackness
The River Derwent outside the cottage was running high and fast - fed by yesterday’s melted snow
The fields in the valley were saturated
Footbridge across the Derwent, leading to Wrench Green
The track leads to North Stile Cottage
A view back to Cockrah House and Wrench Green
Another path runs along the valley at ground level, but it would have been too wet to use
Looking back towards Hackness
Approaching North Stile Cottage
Past the cottage now
The North Sea in the distance
The path which runs along the top edge of Forge Valley, through Scarwell Wood
The return leg through Yedmandale is mainly alongside farmland
Approaching Wykeham Forest
Footprints of a fox in the forest
and a deer....
This one’s a golden retriever!
Ducks - a bit later on at Wrench Green
Along Lang Gate, looking over Hackness. Derwent View is just to the left of centre
Back to the start
