After the exertions of yesterday’s long walk I am under strict instruction that today’s should be no more than seven miles long, include sections of shade, inclines should be kept to a minimum and there should be an ice cream parlour somewhere on route!
I study the OS Map all morning planning a suitable trek and after a while I am pretty confident I have a route that meets the first three requirements. However the good people at Ordnance Survey have yet to allocate a symbol for ice cream parlours so the fourth is purely guess work. I work on the assumption that at every trig point there is a café or ice cream van, but to Lynnie’s disappointment my assumption has yet to be proved correct!
The starting point for our walk is the village of Marske and we park in the small church car park, which asks for donations. As I drop in my contribution the coins seem to hit the bottom despite there being a few other cars here. I am of the view that if there is an honesty box an appropriate contribution should be made. After all people would moan if the parking was not available.
Our walk starts by crossing the Marske Beck and heading up into the village past the church. At a junction we turn left and follow a lane to a gate where it enters a field of pasture.
After a gate, besides a cattle grid, we go along a track that soon enters woodland abundant with wild garlic.
We pass a couple of properties including one with a wonderful wild flower garden.
The path is easy to follow through the woodland, Clints Wood, there is shelter from the sun and I know that I have ticked off one of the requirements of Lynnie’s desired walk for the day!
After going through a gate we join a grassy track with a broken down stonewall on our left. To our right is the impressive Clints Scar.
We see a fine horse in a field, he decides to come to greet us. I am not a horsey person; I got on one once and immediately fell off so have yet to appreciate the pleasure people derive from riding. However, I am always happy to have a chat with one. In Fred’s world all male horses are called Albert, because of a favourite joke of mine, so I chat to Albert for a while and ask him why he is not playing in the current test match. If you know the joke you will understand.
On reaching Orgate Farm we turn left to follow the concrete drive down to the bridge over the Marske Beck. This is a stunning spot and though we haven’t gone far Dexter and Crosby are pleased to get a drink and just stand in the water to cool down.
Upstream a short distance is Orgate Force, from the bridge this looks impressive even after a dry spell, it must be stunning when the river is in full spate.
Continuing up the driveway we go through a gate and pass barns before turning right along a track heading towards Telfit Farm, after a couple of hundred yards we take a worn pathway on the left traversing Telfit Bank. This is a short sharp ascent that has the lactose acid burning in the calves and the lungs heaving for breathe. The rewarding views back across the valley are stunning.
We reach a grass pathway running along the top of the escarpment and turn right keeping a dry stone wall on our left. We stop occasionally just to appreciate the views across and up the dale.
Passing through a gate, we continue on along the track until we reach Munn End Gate where we turn left to follow another track across the moor, as we reach the summit we spot a trig point, amazingly there is no ice cream van besides it! This is the 60thOrdnance Survey trig point I have bagged.
Our route continues across the moor on the track. All the while the only sound we can hear is the call of curlews and lapwings who are our constant companions. Unfortunately they move too quickly for a photo, either that or I am not patient enough.
Going through a gate close to High Greenas we turn left and follow the lane, which the map describes as Helwith Road or Green Lane.
At a junction of lanes we turn left onto Stelling Road, this is another single-track lane and gives views of the route we walked earlier up the dale from Marske.
At a cross roads we turn left towards Marske and soon pass the remains of the Smelting Mill alongside Dale Beck.
In the distance to our right I spot what looks to be a limekiln, as we approach Hollins Farm my suspicions are confirmed, this is a substantial kiln.
As the road starts to descend steeply into Marske we see the top of the Hutton monument above the tree line. This monument is on private land so not accessible, it was built around 1814 to commemorate Sir Matthew Hutton of Macclesfield who died 12 December 1814 aged 35 years. He had requested burial at this, his favourite viewpoint, on the family’s Marske estate.
Approaching the village we spot a For Sale sign for a development opportunity so wander a short distance up a driveway to see what the property looks like. The property in question is the former Marske Hall Stables & Sawmill Buildings which have consent for 10 apartments within a central courtyard and 2 separate dwellings.
Apparently John Hutton, a keen racehorse breeder, built the coach house & stables in 1741. In 1764 his stallion Marske sired the legendary Eclipse a stallion that won all his eighteen races including eleven King’s Plates and apparently his pedigree appears in most modern thoroughbreds.
Later reading about Eclipse on the Internet I discover that his skeleton is housed at the Royal Veterinary College in Hertfordshire and that his hooves were made into inkstands. It would appear that there are at least five inkstands claiming to have come from Eclipse, no wonder he was so fast!
Our walk has covered seven and a half miles and despite the lack of ice cream has received the full seal of approval from Lynnie. Happy days!
You can view this 7.5 mile walk on OS Maps and download the GPX File Here
To follow my walk you will need Ordnance Survey Outdoor Leisure Map 30 – Yorkshire Dales – Northern & Central
27th May 2018
© Two Dogs and an Awning (2018)
All information on this site is provided free of charge and in good faith and no liability is accepted in respect of damage, loss or injury which might result from it. To the best of my knowledge the routes are entirely on public rights of way or within areas that are open for public access.
Walking can be hazardous and is done entirely at your own risk. It is your responsibility to check your route and navigate using a map and compass.