Saturday, September 17, 2011

Oaktree Hill

The rain stopped and we filled a rainbow for the last kilometer of the day

Only 60 mikes to go over the next 4 days

Hmm

Two thirds the way to our night spot

Views across farmland to Cleverland Hills

Walking over the fields

After lunch we crossed more farmland then for many kilometers we walked along a minor country road. There were very few cars. The country opened up and we had some lovely views to the Cleverland Hills in the distance. the rain came down as we got to Danby Wiske, but soon cleared.

The last few kilometers was a real trudge across very muddy fields from Danby Wiske to Oaktree Hill and then finally up the hill to Lovesome Hill Farm. Unfortunately we got a very ordinary room overlooking the car park and not the lovely fields

Bolton-on-Swale lunch spot

We stopped near this church for lunch and the boys went haring off on the wrong track and got lost.

Bolton-on-Swale -garden on a wall

Back in the trail we kept quite close to the Swale and went through Colburn then Catterick. We passed Catterick racecourse which was filling up for the Saturday races. The local pub was doing a great trade.

We then left the river and walked through a lot of rather dull semi industrial land and then some farmland.d. We passed through Bolton-on Swale, an attractive town with a beautiful church. The boys headed off without maps and got lost yet again. We stopped for lunch near the church.
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On the banks of the swollen Swale

Back in the trail we kept quite close to the Swale and went through Colburn then Catterick. We passed Catterick racecourse which was filling up for the Saturday races. The local pub was doing a great trade.

We then left the river and walked through a lot of rather dull semi industrial land and then some farmland.d. We passed through Bolton-on Swale, an attractive town with a beautiful church. The boys headed off without maps and got lost yet again. We stopped for lunch near the church.

After lunch we crossed more farmland then for many kilometers we walked along a minor country road. There were very few cars. The country opened up and we had some lovely views to the Cleverland Hills in the distance. the rain came down as we got to Danby Wiske, but soon cleared.

The last few kilometers was a real trudge across very muddy fields from Danby Wiske to Oaktree Hill and then finally up the hill to Lovesome Hill Farm. Unfortunately we got a very ordinary room overlooking the car park and not the lovely fields.

Day 13 Richmond - Oaktree Hill, 24+km, 8.25 hours

We set off in sunshine down through the garden at Millgate House and onto the park along the Swale. The recent rain had augmented the Swale into a swiftly flowing swollen river. We follows the Swale along some very leafy paths and then went up through a rather dense wood. We crossed some farmlands and found ourselves lost and heading back towards Richmond. Around 40 minutes later with the help of a compass and a couple of locals out walking their dogs, we found ourselves back on the trail.