THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2017 The Northern Echo 35 Walks what’son Walks , Whorl Hill and Whorlton

Walk information

Distance: 6 km (3.75 miles) this enclosed path up over a stile (beside the garage) that leads into Time: 2 hours Whorl Hill Wood. After the stile, Maps: Ordnance Survey Explorer walk straight on climbing up OL26 – always carry an OS map on through the woodland (keeping your walk close to the edge of the woodland Parking: On-street parking on your left) for 350 metres to join throughout Swainby a wider path, which you follow straight on climbing up through Refreshments: Pub at Swainby the woods to soon level out. Follow How to get there: Swainby lies this clear broad path straight on just off the A172 to the south-west then curving round to the right of (following the curve of Whorl Hill) Terrain: Field paths, country lanes, grassy ditches and earthworks before steadily dropping down to woodland paths and tracks. Steady where buildings once stood. Holy eventually reach a T-junction of climb up through Whorl Hill Wood. Cross Church dates from the late broad paths. Turn left along the Caution: Take care walking 11th Century, although there has clear broad path heading downhill along the roads. There are low been a church on this site since to emerge from the woods, where tree branches in Whorl Hill Wood. Saxon times. A 15th Century tower you bear right through a small gate Overgrown paths in places. Several rises above the partly ruined that leads onto an enclosed path stiles. Norman arches of the old nave. (Whorl Hill Farm in front of you). The chancel has been repaired and remains complete, with a fine Turn left along this enclosed Norman arch and 14th Century straight on across the field (hedge After this gate, walk straight on 4path, passing the farm buildings Points of interest effigy of Richard de Meynell. on your right) for 50 metres then up across two fields alongside the Nearby are the imposing remains on your right, for 100 metres to follow the grassy track bending left hedge on your right to join a road. reach a metal gate at the end of WAINBY is an attractive of . A castle was across the field, over a stile beside a the enclosed path. After the gate, village of old cottages first built here following the red metal gate, after which continue carry straight on along the clear lining a long main street Norman Conquest; however, the Turn right along the road to straight on along the grassy track path across rough fields (keeping with a stream flowing right fine gatehouse and vaulted cellars gently rising up to reach a gate in 2quickly reach the house and Sthrough the heart of the we see today date from the 14th farm buildings at Whorlton House. close to the fence/hedge on your the hedge to your right at the foot As you reach the crossroads of left) for 275 metres to reach a small village. It lies sheltered beneath Century when the manor was held of a low bank (near a small block tracks amongst the barns (house gate to your right, that leads down the steep wooded escarpment of by the de Meynells. This was once of woodland). Head through this to your right) turn left (just after some steps out onto a field. As the , which rise the home of the Earl of Lennox gate, and walk on along the grassy the open barn) along a track that you emerge onto this field, head dramatically from the Cleveland whose son, Lord Darnley, married track alongside the hedge on your leads out onto a field. Follow the to the left and walk down the field Plain to over 400 metres above sea Mary, Queen of Scots. right then, at the end of this field track straight on alongside the alongside the hedge on your left level; it is easy to see why Viking (3-finger signpost ‘Swainby’), walk hedge on your right for 450 metres (follow the enclosed path) to reach settlers named this region ‘cliff- straight on through the large gap to reach a choice of two red gates. a gate in the hedge at the bottom land’, a name that has changed only The walk in the hedge, and walk across the Head through the left-hand gate of the field, after which follow the slightly through the centuries to next field alongside the hedge on (end of the clear track) and walk grassy track straight on to join ‘Cleveland’. your left. At the end of this field, From the centre of Swainby, straight on across the sloping the road at Whorlton. Turn right walk through the large gap in the 1cross the stone road-bridge hillside keeping close to the fence/ along the road, passing Holy Cross edge (waymarker), after which bear From Swainby, we follow pleasant over Scugdale Beck (which flows trees on your right through two church on your left then Whorlton left up to join the hedge on your left field paths and then tracks across through the centre of Swainby) small gates (ponds down to your Castle on your right, then continue along the top of the field, which you pastureland, with fine views and follow Church Lane straight on right) then through a small area of along the road back into Swainby. follow straight on (walking along towards the Cleveland Hills, to passing the church on your right woodland to emerge onto a field, the top of the field) to reach a small reach High Farm. From High (sign ‘No Through Road’). Follow where you head down towards the gate to your left in the corner of the Farm, our route heads up into this road straight on through the house ahead (High Farm), through Mark Reid field (just before a wooded stream Walking Weekends 2017 Whorl Hill Wood, a delightful mixed village for 200 metres then, as you some gates to join a road in front of across your path). After this gate, Peak District, Dales, woodland, before dropping down reach the edge of the village (just High Farm. back across fields, with extensive before the 30 mph sign), turn right walk up across the field alongside Lake District & Snowdonia views across there Cleveland Plain, along a track (signpost). Follow this the fence/hedge on your right, at walkingweekenders.co.uk to reach the hamlet of Whorlton, track straight on passing houses on the top of which turn right through Turn left along the road for Unique corporate activity days, once an important village that was your right for 100 metres to reach a small gate in the field corner, 375 metres passing a bungalow navigation skills and team building devastated by the Plague. Evidence two gates at the end of the track then walk on alongside the hedge on your left, immediately after experiences in the great outdoors. of its former importance can be that lead out onto a field. After the on your left to reach another gate which take the enclosed path teamwalking.co.uk seen in the surrounding fields with gates, follow the clear grassy track to your left at the end of this field. to the left (signpost) and follow

Birdwatch By Ian Kerr UR red kites have had an much better than in 2016 when the core area. This is a matter potential breeding areas being the sea at Whitburn, two early improved breeding season nine successful pairs produced 18 of concern as it means that the occupied. Our monitoring teams Lapland buntings at Burniston O but are still struggling to young. However, it was still below long-term aim of establishing a have recruited five new volunteers and, further southwards, another expand outside their core nesting the species’ most successful year sustainable breeding population which should help our efforts in American visitor, a long-billed areas around the Derwent Valley. of 2014 when there were 21 pairs across the north east has still to be future.” dowitcher at Kilnsea. Further New figures show that this and 34 fledged young. realised. This autumn and winter the signs have included the arrival of spring and summer pairs and Friends of Red Kites (FoRK), Although there were no known monitoring teams will be making more than 500 pale-bellied brent single birds were seen in 38 whose members monitor the instances of illegal persecution regular checks on established and geese of the Svalbard race to their regular and potential breeding population, is emphasising that during the season the fear potential communal roosting sites only regular British wintering areas. Most were within the core the figures must be regarded as remains that such activities, to gain information about the area on the Lindisfarne reserve. area and immediately adjacent an absolute minimum. Some nests particularly in game-shooting movements and survival rates of areas of north Durham although may have been missed because of areas where kites have been both adults and this year’s chicks, one young pair was settled in the the difficulties of access to some poisoned and shot in the past, are some of which have been wing- Evenwood and Staindrop area, suitable woodlands areas where still impeding the expansion of tagged so they can be identified in giving hope for future nesting in kites were seen. the population. the field. new areas. FoRK says that the 2017 figures FoRK chairman Ken Sanderson There have been more signs of A total of 17 pairs went on to lay show that the introduced says: “It’s good to see the autumn movements over the past eggs. Three pairs failed but the population is continuing to face population expanding again week where the star birds proved other 14 fledged at least 24 young, difficulties in expanding outside after last year and to see more to be a red-necked phalarope on