A WALK OVER AINTHORPE RIGG AND ALONG LITTLE FRYUP DALE
"Lush green pastures by the River Esk at the start, followed by a steady climb across heathery moor land to Ainthorpe Rigg and a descent into the beautiful, thinly populated Little Fryup Dale, make this a particularly attractive and absorbing walk with constantly outstanding views. Castle ruins and a picturesque packhorse bridge add to the variety and enjoyment."
The weather forecast was for frequent heavy and blustery showers. It was certainly windy and several times the black clouds built up in the sky, but miraculously it never rained us on this six mile walk with incredibly varied scenery. A feature of the walk was the spectacular skies over the moors. Later we drove to the viewpoint on Beacon Hill where there are 360° views over the North York Moors and eastward to the sea above Whitby. The rain finally fell here from moody late afternoon skies.
We set off from the National Park centre at Danby Lodge in Eskdale. Crossing the river and field paths we went along a narrow lane which gave us our first views of the moors to the north of the valley.
We stopped to eat our lunch on the green at Ainthorpe.
We left the village behind us and took the bridleway which leads up and over Ainthorpe Rigg. The transformation from the lush valley to bleak moor occurs quickly as we climb. We get a view back to Danby village, and the first of those big skies.
Looking west to the moors above the head of Eskdale.
The cloud strata ahead of the rain clouds start to make spectacular patterns.
Another view of upper Eskdale.
Looking towards Beacon Hill which we were to visit later in the day.
The sky over Danby.
The standing stone at the top of Ainthorpe Rigg.
To the south west the rain clouds are beginning to build again.
As we descend from Ainthorpe Rigg we look into Little Fryup Dale. Our return route lies along this valley.
The sun illuminates the lush green fields at the head of the dale and the chess board pattern of the old stone walls.
The lambs are man killers around here.
Through the dale bottom and past Stonebeck Gate Farm we follow a bridleway along the pastoral dale.
The route takes us past the isolated Forester's Lodge. This is Adrienne's sort of house! It looks deserted, but in fact is obviously inhabited from time to time.
Silhouetted against a wild sky, the lodge could almost be a scene out of Wuthering Heights!
But it still doesn't rain on us, and we get good views of Little Fryup Dale running out into Eskdale.
The remains of Danby Castle, a 14th century fortified house, where Katherine Parr, the sixth wife of King Henry VIII, once lived. The Castle was once the administrative centre of this area, and a notice on the wall indicated that the Lord of the Manor, Viscount Dacre, had held the annual manorial court there the week before we visited.
From the castle we descend a lane to Duck Bridge, a shapely packhorse bridge over the Esk.
Looking up river from the crest of the bridge.
Nearing the end of the walk a shapely oak tree in the low rays of the late afternoon sun.
After completing our walk we drove up to the viewpoint at the top of Beacon Hill.
From there the narrow road goes over the moors, and the rain finally arrived. We stopped the car to snatch pictures of the sky.
The sun is sinking and it will soon be dark.
And finally....
....a skyscape after playing with the software!