Route: Harwood Dale
Area: North York Moors
Date of walk: 11th January 2015
Walkers: Andrew Gilly and Fiona
Distance: 4.9 miles
Ascent: 700 feet
Weather: Mostly overcast, very windy, and some light drizzle
On the way to Harwood Dale we stopped at Birdwatchers Car Park in Forge Valley and topped up the feeders there. Within seconds dozens of woodland birds descended and we watched them for a while from very close quarters, using the car as a hide
We then moved on and parked near St Margaret’s Church in the small village of Harwood Dale to start our walk. We walked across open farmland on the edge of the moors, passing through Castlebeck Wood
We then headed across more fields towards Broxa Forest before crossing Harwood Dale Beck to arrive back in the village. It was very windy and overcast but we enjoyed a brief spell of blue sky as we ended the walk
We drove home via Scarborough, stopping to watch the surfers riding the large waves in North Bay
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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Jay at Birdwatchers car park on the way to the start of today’s walk
Nuthatch taking one of the peanuts we’d put on the feeding stations
Robin
Willow tit or marsh tit, so alike that they were thought to be the same species until 100 years ago
After that diverting interlude, it was time to get on with the walk - Fiona and Gilly leaving Harwood Dale
Looking across to Broxa Forest
Descending towards Castlebeck Wood
We cross the footbridge over Lownorth Beck
Castlebeck Wood
We climb out of the wood and walk towards Park Hill
The lovely farmhouse at Park Hill
Walking towards Broxa Forest
Scarborough Castle can just be seen in the distance
Descending into Harwood Dale
Further down the track
Hardwick Farm, where the path has been diverted to avoid the house
On the diverted section, which adds to the enjoyment of the walk rather than detracting from it - a job well done
St Margaret’s Church again
Looking back to Reasty Hill
And again, from St Margaret’s Church
After ending the walk at the church, we drove home via Scarborough and stopped at North Bay……
