Route: Wykeham Forest and Troutsdale
Area: North Yorkshire
Date of walk: 23rd October 2015
Walkers: Andrew
Distance: 9.4 miles
Ascent: 900 feet
Weather: Dull
I parked in the village hall car park in the unspolit village of Hackness and after a short walk along the lane and out of the village I crossed the footbridge over the River Derwent and passed through the hamlet of Wrench Green
There followed a long uphill climb along Lang Gate and into Wykeham Forest. A succession of wide tracks took me through the forest as far as Troutsdale Brow, the half way point, and here I descended into lonely Troutsdale
A lengthy road section followed, not an issue as there’s hardly any traffic in this quiet valley. When I reached the road bridge beyond Little Hilla Green I joined the footpath which follows the bank of the River Derwent back into Hackness – a lovely section of the walk and a good way to end it
It’s a shame that the weather was so dull and flat and so the photos that follow don’t show this beautiful area in its best light
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Nuthatch at nearby Birdwatcher’s car park before the start of the walk
Start of the walk from the village hall car park - this is the war memorial. My route will take me up Shortgate Hill on the left
Near Wrench Green I cross the footbridge over the River Derwent
Walking towards Wrench Green
I pass through the old village
Start of a long climb up Lang Gate
The road ends and is replaced by tracks in Wykeham Forest
I follow this track through the forest, part of the long distance Tabular Hills Walk
From Highwood Brow viewpoint, looking along Langdale Valley to Langdale Rigg and Fylingdales Moor beyond
Further along the track I take a short detour
I waited around for a while but none of the advertised raptors made an appearance, maybe on account of the indifferent weather
Further along the track, a nursery growing thousands of young conifers
Christmas trees of the future perhaps
Start of the descent into Troutsdale down Troutsdale Brow
Down to valley level now, I cross Troutsdale Beck via the footbridge
Walking through the fields in Troutsdale towards the valley road
Lovely autumn colours looking back up to Wykeham Forest
The path through the fields emerges by the curious ruined Edwardian Chapel in Troutsdale
It would be interesting to know a bit about its history but I can’t find anything on the internet
There follows a lengthy but pleasant walk through Troutsdale along quiet Estell Lane
Attractive autumn colours on this section of hedgerow
At the point where the lane crosses the River Derwent, I take the footpath which follows the course of the river back to the start
Field near Hackness
I pass by Derwent View Hackness on the other side of the river
Another ruined barn in front of Coomb Hill
The final stretch of the riverside path
I re-cross the footbridge over the Derwent
Passing by Mill Farm…
Journey’s end
