COAST TO COAST MAY 2015 - DAY FOUR

KIRKBY STEPHEN TO ROBIN HOOD'S BAY

DAY FOUR - RICHMOND TO DANBY WISKE - 14.54 MILES

This was the view from the dining room at 66 Frenchgate, Richmond down to the River Swale. The Vale of Mowbray in the distance was beckoning after a substantial breakfast admiring the view.

We descended down through the town leaving via the Bar, or small postern gate, one of the few remaining fragments of the medieval town wall built in 1311. In northern dialect a gateway in a defensive wall was called a bar.

This is the view of the River Swale from the Green Bridge, so-called because it is near the Green. This bridge was built in 1788-9, the dates and the names of the mayors in those years being carved on the parapet in the centre of the bridge. Opposite is a milestone giving the distances to Askrigg and Lancaster, for this was the start of the Richmond-Lancaster Turnpike Road. The bridge was designed by the famous architect of York, John Carr, and replaced an older structure that was damaged in serious floods that affected the whole of the North-East of England in 1771. Even today the level of the river can rise dramatically and treacherously as a result of heavy rain higher up Swaledale. This was the only bridge crossing the River Swale until a new bridge was built near the railway station in 1846.

The large walls of the Castle flanking the Swale. Alan Rufus began building in 1071 to establish the rule of the Norman invaders. Before the Conquest Gilling West had been the most important local stronghold. The Castle reached its final form in the mid-l4th century and subsequently began to fall into decline.

This is the view back to Richmond and one of the houses on the skyline is 66 Frenchgate.

Last view of the Castle.

The C"C route took us along the south side of the Swale so we only caught this glimpse of the ruins of Easby Abbey on the other side. http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/easby-abbey

View of the Swale at Iron Banks.

The path between Hagg Farm and Colburn the next village on the route.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colburn,_North_Yorkshire

The path east of Colburn in the vicinity of Colburn Bank Wood.

The path near St Giles Farm. Shortly after the C2C was closed although where we should have diverted the notices were out of date and we continued until we were halted by the improvement works on the A1. Fortunately the occupier of Thornbrough let us leave by her access road and we did not have to go the long way around.

 The old Catterick Bridge http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catterick,_North_Yorkshire from the bridge on the site of the railway crossing of the Swale. Nearby is the racecourse a pub and a few houses.

We had our picnic lunch at Bolton-on-Swale in the churchyard. In the church was self service tea and coffee facilities and a drinks fridge providing you make a contribution to church funds, This picture is of Bolton Beck which we followed after lunch.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bolton-on-Swale

Bolton Beck near Leylands Farm

We passed by Kilpin Hall, unfortunately time did not permit a visit. http://www.kiplinhall.co.uk/

 

Some interesting wood carvings next to the path along the side of Ladybank House.

There was miles of paths through fields between farms before we were to reach our destination. Not much to entertain the viewer. This was taken near the derelict Stanhowe Cottages.

A nice green lane about a mile before Danby Wiske. By now the thoughts were turning to a pint waiting at our destination. Shortly after we met the muddiest field of the whole day - always happens just before a pub.

A long day was over -The White Swan at Danby Wiske ahead!

http://www.thewhiteswandanbywiske.co.uk/

Some of the party were at the nearby Ashfield House.