26/05/2019

Another Wolds wander.

Are we mad, or what..It was bucketing it down as we left home..Wipers going full pelt as we crawled along the M62 heading east towards Hull. Strong winds buffeting the car around as we passed over the Ouse bridge... No we are not mad, its only weather,it will not kill us. I took a quick look in the mirror, skies were clearing from the west, even a little bit of blue up there. We were heading for Brantingham to carry on our walk along the Yorkshire Wolds way. Not sure how far we were going to walk today...Just see what happens...As we arrived in Brantingham something good happened, it stoped raining...Horray !!!..We pulled up by the church, around 30 cars were already parked up. I never realised that church was so popular...We set off..Raincoats on [just in case]

Before long the coats came off as we dropped down into Woodale, a tiny dale, but the path out of it was ruddy steep...up to Mount Airy farm..It was certainly airy up there this morning..Our gaze was drawn west..Approaching rain storm. Quick raincoats back on.We reached South cave before the heavens opened..10 minutes later the sun was out and the coats came off..I can see a pattern emerging here..a pattern that was to last throughout the day..As we were stuffing our coats into our rucksacks a couple of ladies passed by..they stopped for a chat.They thought that Alfie was a Sarda dog [search and rescue dog] this was because he was wearing his bright orange harness..We explained that he wasn't as he was rather a mature dog who liked a slow gentle life..Apparently there was some sort of event/ sponsored walk going on in the area for Search and rescue dogs..Ahh that would explain all of the cars parked up at Brantingham church...So religion is not so popular after all.

We followed the woodland path up Little wold..Good views along here...We passed the Little wold vineyard where they produce some fine Yorkshire wines. Good luck to them, apparently they are doing a roaring trade...Shortly after the vineyard we descended the slopes into Coomber dale...coats on at the top...off at the bottom.

A wooded section came next as we walked along Weedley dale and then East dale..I really enjoyed East dale..some lovely trees..Sycamore to the left..Ash to the right..The valley narrowed and steepened and we were soon out into the open again

Fairly high now as we followed field edge paths..Some long range views opening out along here, but it was the skies that grabbed the attention.

The next dale was Swindale..it is probably the highlight of the walk so far..Very pretty. We last walked here in 2013 and amazingly I cannot remember Swindale. Typical wolds scenery complete with sheep, just as it should be...I wont forget Swindale this time...It was so nice, here are 3 pictures of it.

The plan now was to walk as far as North Newbald where we would be able to start the walk from next time..This meant leaving the YWW for a mile or so..a steep climb through woodland and we reached the road to the village, we could see the rooftops of the village in the valley below but it seemed pointless to walk down to the village only to walk back up..We could mop up this small section next time..by now we had walked over 7 miles so we decided to walk back...following the road at first..I hate road walking, luckily its a fairly quiet road..most cars slowed down for us, but you always get a few clever twats that speed past at 70 mile an hour meaning a quick jump into the verge.

We retraced our steps for most of the return..After 12 miles we began to hobble..Boots were taken off and emptied of small stones, twigs and various bits and bobs..a glug of drink, a chocolate biscuit and I bounded along...Nearly back now..Down that ruddy big hill into Woodale..It was along here I had a lovely surprise..There was a pony in a field..I did that noise you do with your tounge and the top of your mouth..you know the sound..everyone does it to call a horse ..The horse looked at me and carried on munching grass..I did that sound again and to my amazement a sheep came over to me..she let me pat her on the head..The horse looked up..feeling jealous he trotted over pushing the sheep out of the way so he could have a pat..They watched as I walked away..Farmyard friends.

Its been a good day..14 miles..Now im looking forward to next time.