Hovingham - Sunday 14th December

We were a party of 10 including ‘Kelby’ the dog.

The weather was grey and unpromising when we struck off East for Slingsby along the old Malton-Gilling branch line. There is a heritage mosaic plaque on the site of a level crossing and we paused here for a few moments then on to Slingsby with water logged fields either side of our dry and level track.

We stopped for a drink on the charming village green in front of the old fashioned looking school and a huge May Pole. Refreshed but in need of a old fashioned WC we took the footpath that cuts through a farm yard and into some paddocks where the horses all had their best Sunday coats on. The incline towards Fryton Woods allowed a good view back over the village with its Castle ruins, interesting Church, and shop without a post office. (the post office has just shut). The solid grey clouds began to thin as we climbed into the woods and as we emerged on the other side of the bank the sun actually came out for us.

We walked through rolling pastures around Fryton moor. The map showed that some of the mounds were Tumuli and Julie told us that the Iron Age fort on the hill top would have buried it’s dead there. Nobody had a better story so we bought that one.

Lunch time found us all sitting on a convenient log washed in weak but welcome sunshine.

Turning north to head back to Hovingham we crossed over Wath beck which was rushing madly along with pale limestone coloured water frothing away beneath our footbridge.

Happy, muddy and sniffing all the way ‘Kelby’ and friends arrived back at the car park at 2.15 pm. Total time 3.5 hrs.

Cheers John.