Type of Walk
Minor roads, fields and tracks.
Distance and Time
5.9 miles; 3.0 hours including stops.
Starting Location
Junction of B6306 and Slaley (NY 970577).
Map of Route and Elevation Profile
Difficulty
Fairly easy.
Walking the Route
Does this walk seem familiar at all? Well it should do as it is the same as 17th September 2018. Slaley. However, this time we walked it in the opposite direction!
We chopped a little bit off this time by starting at the road junction at the west end of the village. Commencing on byway 534/034, we followed the path to the end of the track and left down the old cobbled route. Here we met a minor road and turned left towards Holly Hill, a delightful cottage where we admired their garden.
Turning right here, we followed the road, alongside the plantation, until reaching byway 543/038. Upon entering the forest we were met by two off-road vehicles who looked like they’d been having some fun and were now off back home.
We trekked along the path, stopping occasionally to admire the views before emerging onto the minor road at Viewley. A cup of tea on a pair of old logs was called for, ideal for the mid-way break and also fully socially distanced seating arrangements.
Tea break over, we followed the road down the steep(ish) hill until arriving at bridleway 525/057. At the start of this we noticed a new route marker, well new to us – the Northern Saints Trail.
Passing by Wester Byers and Steel Hall we carried on along until entering Rushy Plantation where we took luncheon on an old steel roller. Egg and chive sandwiches for one, sausage and chutney for the other; what more could you ask for?
Post nosh up, we carried on along the bridleway until Dukesfield Hall. We followed 543/023 to Middle Dukesfield and then 543/046 past East Dukesfield. Crossing a charming ford we continued up, and past, Palm Strothers.
Speeding along quickly for the last stretch, due to one of us being desperate to get back for the Formula 1 qualifying session, we passed Highclear and arrived back at the car.
Boots still on, but now all masked up and sitting diagonally opposite each other, we headed home.
Our Ratings of the Walk (up to 5*)
- Scenery: 1½*
- Historical interest: ½*
- Weather factor: 3*
- Overall enjoyment: 2*
Reference(s)
Additional Information
- Walking the route: Neil and Paul
- Weather conditions on the day: Fair becoming warm and sunny as the walk progressed.
- Date of walk: 18th July 2020
Middle Aged Ramblings 