6 The Northern Echo Thursday, October 8, 2009 7DAYS northernecho.co.uk COUNTRY DIARY WALKS ITH night temperatures falling The Mouseman fast, toads will soon be entering Whibernation but on milder evenings you can still find these useful amphibians hunting slugs and other By garden pests. They often turn up close to houses after nightfall, taking Mark Reid advantage of light from windows to help Kilburn find their prey. of Some toads will have already chosen POINTS OF INTEREST their hibernation sites, often under ILBURNis famous for its rocks, in piles of rotting wood or in deep white horse and church leaf litter. Amongst them will be the mice. The famous White surviving toadlets, that hatched from KHorse of Kilburn WALKFACTS spawn back in the spring, which will dominates the village. have reached thumbnail-size by now. Unfortunately, this landscape Distance: 10.25 km (6.5 miles) Their warty skin and muted brown or figure is not prehistoric but the Time: Allow 3 hours green colours provide excellent brainchild of Thomas Taylor, a Map: OS Explorer Sheet OL26 North camouflage and although they’re tiny, local man who gained inspiration York Moors western area they are not as vulnerable as they look for his White Horse from the Start/Parking: Large car park outside because their skin secretes a foul- famous chalk horse at Uffington. the Forresters Arms at Kilburn tasting toxin that deters many potential He provided money for the project Refreshments: Pubs at Kilburn and predators. Just behind the eye, on that was undertaken by the local Oldstead. either side of the head, there’s also a Headmaster John Hodgson who Terrain: Quiet lanes, muddy tracks dense area of toxin-secreting tissue designed and cut the figure in 1857 and field paths lead from Kilburn to concentrated in the parotid glands, with the help of his pupils and Oldstead from where an old which are visible as paler, elongated local men. The White Horse is kept stony/grassy track heads quite steeply swollen lumps with prominent pores. nice and bright by plenty of stone up through woodland to reach the These are often particularly chippings as it actually lies on conspicuous in young toads, and if you chapel at Scotch Corner, from where rather dull limestone. The views disturb one you’ll notice these glands the track continues up to join the road. swelling as it quickly begins to deploy from the escarpment above the After a short stretch of road walking, its natural chemical defences. White Horse is superb, with the a path leads through woodland Although these skin secretions Pennines clearly visible on the (muddy) to join the Hambleton Hills provide some defence, predators can horizon some 40 miles away. escarpment above Sutton Bank. A still deliver a fatal blow before being Kilburn is also the home of the clear path heads along the top of this deterred from eating their victim by its workshops of Robert ‘Mousey’ escarpment (cliffs to the side of the foul taste, so toads have evolved a Thompson, where quality hand- path in places) to reach the White distinctive form of behaviour to attempt made oak furniture is produced Horse from where a steep flight of to intimidate potential enemies. When using traditional tools such as the steps lead down to join a road. Lanes, they’re threatened they inflate their adze which gives the finished wood tracks and field path lead back to lungs with air, pumping themselves up its distinctive honeycomb surface. Kilburn. to a larger size, then lower their head, Robert Thompson was a self- How to get there: From the A19 at arch their back and raise and lower taught wood carver and craftsman Thirsk, turn offalong the A170 themselves repeatedly on their legs. who received his first commission towards Sutton Bank (and Helmsley) Sometimes, it’s just enough to fend off from the local priest, since when then, just through the village of an attack from a bewildered predator. fame of his work spread. Examples Sutton-under-Whitestonecliffe, take Toads can live to a ripe old age and of his work, particularly the turning towards Kilburn. there are authenticated records of ecclesiastical furniture, can be Caution: Take care whilst walking © Crown Copyright 2005. All Rights examples in captivity surviving for 40 found throughout the world, along the escarpment path above Reserved. Licence: 100011978 years. Phil Gates including York Minster, Roulston Scar – sheer cliffs. The path Westminster Abbey and, closer to to the side of the White Horse is steep BIRDWATCH home, St Mary’s Church and the (steps), whilst the track that leads up Forresters’ Arms at Kilburn. to Scotch Corner involves a long and GOOD run of rarities, further Robert ‘Mousey’ Thompson died in quite steep climb. spectacular goose migration and 1955, however, the family business A the first signs of October thrush arrivals were the highlights of the week. continues to flourish. The idea of road which you follow up to the Turn left along the road levels out and emerges from the Some ‘regulars’ remained, including the trademark ‘mouse’ came to left into High Kilburn. 4through Oldstead to reach a woods, take the metalled farm lane to Saltholme’s drake Blue-winged Teal and him whilst he was working on a fork in the road just after Sand the right (signpost). Buff-breasted Sandpiper and the church screen as the phrase ‘as Follow the road across High Lane House take the lane to the Pectoral Sandpiper at Bishop poor as a church mouse’ seemed 2Kilburn’s green then, right (Dead End sign). Follow this Follow this lane straight on then, Middleham. The young Glossy Ibis fed very appropriate. Today, around 85 immediately after you have lane straight on then, where it 7where it bends sharp left down regularly at Druridge Pools, occasionally craftsmen work at the Thompson crossed the green, take the bends to the right towards towards Acre House, carry straight on touring other local ponds. The first- workshop, and each one signs his footpath to the left (signpost) up Cockerdale Farm after 150 metres, along rough enclosed bridleway. winter Red-backed Shrike eventually particular piece of furniture with through a gate just before River head straight on along the rougher Follow this for about 200 metres then disappeared from Dorman’s Pool but their own unique mouse. Lane End House. Follow the track (Unsuitable for Motors). cross the large ladder stile to the left another nicely-marked youngster enclosed path up through Follow the clear track climbing over the deer fence. Head down across showed well in the Straight Lonnen, Oldstead is situated at the foot of undergrowth/woodland to reach a steadily up through woodland. the field and over a large bridge Holy Island, from Wednesday until the ancient road known as gate that leads out onto a field. After 0.5 km the track levels out across the deer fence, after which Saturday. Hambleton Street that charts a Head straight across the field and becomes grassy underfoot for follow the clear enclosed path A Siberian Chiffchaff was identified by high-level route along the top of (waymarker post) to reach a stile a short distance before it heads alongside the deer fence on your left call in Holy Island village but other the escarpment of the Hambleton just to the right beside a gate at through a gate back into woodland to reach a smaller stile (Acre House warblers and common migrants were Hills. This track has been in use the other side of the field. After – carry straight on along the rough up to your left). Cross this stile then decidedly scarce. The week’s only since prehistoric times, although it the stile, head straight down the track climbing steadily up for a head straight across the field, bearing Yellow-browed Warbler found at was most famous during the 18th slightly to the left, to reach a Whitburn on Friday. field to reach a gate in a hedge that further 0.5 km to reach the small and 19th Centuries as a drovers’ leads onto a road. chapel at Scotch Corner. After the footbridge across a stream. After the On Sunday a Spotted Crake was road between York and the discovered at Saltholme, a Richard’s chapel, continue up along the footbridge, follow the path to the right Scottish Borders. In 1322 King Pipit was at Blackhall Rocks and the At the road, take the grassy grassy track which soon levels out across rough boggy ground that region had another Buff-breasted Edward II’s army had returned 3track directly opposite and and becomes a clear stony track. quickly leads out onto a field. Head Sandpiper when an individual turned up along this road from a fruitless follow this track to soon reach a Head straight along this track for straight on across the field bearing at Whitburn. A Grey Phalarope was on campaign in Scotland. They had bridlegate to your left (waymarker) 0.75 km then follow it bending very slightly to the left to reach a stile the sea off Stag Rocks, Bamburgh, but camped out on the surrounding at the end of the track. Head sharp left at Shaw’s Gate to reach over the hedge/fence on your left quickly flew off northwards. moors whilst their King enjoyed through the bridlegate and follow the road. about 100 metres before the far left- Bird of the week was undoubtedly a the hospitality of nearby Byland the clear grassy track straight on hand corner of the field (and 50 Fea’s Petrel. Wardens on the Farne Abbey. Robert Bruce and an army for 350 metres through two more Turn right along the road for metres after a gate in this Islands watched it moving north on of Scots attacked the English at gates and out onto a field (after 50.75 km to reach the main A170. hedge/fence) that leads onto a road. Monday evening, perhaps the same night killing many of them where this second gate). Carry straight As you reach the road junction Turn right along the road into bird reported early that day passing they lay and forcing the King to on along the grassy path ahead take the path to the left (signpost Kilburn. Spurn in Yorkshire. flee to York, leaving the Scots to and follow it gradually curving Cleveland Way) and follow this Large numbers of Barnacle geese ransack Byland Abbey. This lonely round to the right skirting around clear path through woodland to Mark Reid continued to pass through the region, chapel marks the spot of this the base of a small hill to join an join the path along the top of the Author of The Inn Way series including parties of 2,000 at Lindisfarne bloody battle at a place known as overgrown hedge on your left. escarpment above Sutton Bank innway. co.uk and 1,000 at East Chevington, en route Scotch Corner. Follow this hedge straight on (superb views ahead). to their wintering grounds at through a shallow valley then, just Navigation Skills courses 2010 Caerlaverock on the Solway where THE WA LK before you reach a telegraph pole, Turn left along the clear path Dates now available for our weekend 16,000 had arrived by Tuesday. An all- From the Forresters Arms at turn left through a large gap in the 6along the top of the escarpment courses in the Yorkshire Dales white Barnacle was identified in a 1Kilburn (with your back to the hedge (signpost). Follow the path (above Roulston Scar – keep away throughout 2010. Visit resting flock of 600 at Lindisfarne on pub) turn left up through the down over a footbridge, then head from the edge, sheer cliffs) with www.teamwalking.co.uk Sunday after initially raising hopes that it parking area to reach the iron straight up the hillside to reach a steep drops and wonderful views to was a Snow Goose. gates that lead into the Small groups of incoming Redwings stile in the top corner of the field. your right then passing the grassy churchyard. After the iron gates, and a few Fieldfares were seen along Cross over the stile and follow the runway of the Gliding Club to your the coast at the weekend and an follow the grassy path bearing off hedge round to the left heading left. At the end of the runway to the right across the churchyard across the top of the field for about follow the path as it sweeps round ■ While every effort is made to ensure increase in the numbers of Blackbirds that walks are accessible and are and Chaffinches was also noted. and through a white kissing-gate, 200 metres to reach a fork in the to the left then passes above the after which follow the enclosed path, where you follow the clear hill figure of the White Horse and rights of way, The Northern Echo However, Saturday’s westerly blast must cannot guarantee that fields, paths or path up to reach another kissing- have deterred all but the bravest from path to the right across the field drops down a long flight of steps to pubs will be open. If you are walking in setting off from Scandinavia so the vast gate that leads onto a track. Cross (very tall corn crop when I walked reach the parking area and the the countryside, please remember the majority of thrushes are still to make over the track and continue along this route) to reach a stile then road. Turn right along the tree- Country Code. their appearance. Ian Kerr the clear path ahead rising up to through a gate that leads onto the shaded road and follow it winding wwwnorthernecho.co.uk/leisure/walks reach a gate that leads onto the road near the Black Swan pub. downhill then, where the road