THURSDAY, JANUARY 22, 2015 The Northern Echo 43 Walks what’son Walks Faceby, Scugdale & Whorlton

rises above the partly ruined At the farm, walk straight on Walk information Norman arches of the old nave. 4along the tarmac road and The chancel has recently been follow it for 750 metres into the Distance: 6.8 km / 4.25 miles repaired and remains complete, scattered hamlet of Whorlton then, Time: 2 - 3 hours with a fine Norman arch and where the road bends sharp left, 14th Century effigy of Richard de turn right through the gate on Map: OS Explorer Sheet OL26 Meynell. Nearby are the imposing this sharp bend, signpost ‘Faceby’ ‘ Western Area’ remains of Whorlton Castle. A (short detour to the left along the Parking: On-street parking castle was first built here following road to Whorlton Castle and Holy throughout Faceby - please park the Norman Conquest, however, the Cross Church). After the gate, bear considerately fine gatehouse and vaulted cellars right alongside the fence on your Refreshments: Pub at Faceby. we see today date from the 14th right and follow this up to reach a gate in the top right-hand corner How to get there: Faceby lies just Century when the manor was held of the field, after which continue off the A172 to the south-west of by the de Meynells. This was once up across the next field alongside . the home of the Earl of Lennox whose son, Lord Darnley, married the hedge on your right to reach a Terrain: Quiet country lanes, Mary, Queen of Scots. The walk bridlegate tucked away up a couple paths and tracks across fields and back from Whorlton to Faceby is of steps amongst some hawthorns through forest. superb, with far-reaching views. in the very top corner of the field. Please note: Many of the paths After this bridlegate, carry straight are muddy underfoot. Take care The walk on along the very clear path walking along the lanes. alongside the fence on your right through scattered trees along the From the road junction beside lower slopes of Whorl Hill for 275 1the Sutton Arms in the centre metres to reach a gate just before Points of interest of Faceby, take the turning signed Whorl Hill Farm. Head through the ‘Faceby Only’ and follow the road gate and follow the enclosed path ACEBY is a small village up through the village then, as straight on for a short distance hidden away at the you reach the last of the houses then, where the enclosed path foot of the impressive (National Speed Limit sign) bends left after the stone-built F continue along the road gently Cleveland Hills, which rise bungalow (No Entry sign), head through the forest for 225 metres white metal gate into the farmyard dramatically from the Cleveland rising up for a further 300 metres straight on along the enclosed path then, where the track steepens and immediately bear slightly left Plain and the Vale of Mowbray to to reach a cluster of houses at passing a series of large barns slightly, take the clear path off to along the enclosed track, passing over 400 metres above sea level; it High Farm (Turning Circle). Carry (woodland on your right) to reach the right (small waymarker post) the farmhouse on your right. is easy to see why Viking settlers straight on along the clear enclosed a bridlegate in a fence that leads that leads quickly down to reach a Follow this clear track straight on named this region ‘cliff-land’, track (Bank Lane), heading gently out onto a field after the last of the across several fields and through a a name that has changed only downhill into a slight ‘dip’ of land gate in the fence along the bottom barns (Faceby just ahead). After series of gates for 625 metres then, slightly through the centuries to for 400 metres then gently rising edge of the forest. After the gate, the bridlegate, bear right across as you reach a gateway and hedge ‘Cleveland’. Behind the village, a up for a further 250 metres to reach turn immediately left alongside two fields to reach a gate in the far across your path where the clear track leads up through forest, with bench and a signpost, where you the fence/forest on your left and corner of the second field, then track all but ends (telegraph pole fine views across the escarpment bear slightly right along the track follow this to reach a gate that leads walk straight on along the clear on your right and Perish Crook of the Cleveland Hills and the alongside the fence on your right a very clear path (Cleveland Way). path passing some cottages to join House up to your right), turn flat fertile Cleveland Plain, and for only a couple of paces then Turn right along this clear path and a lane just before Faceby Church. right up along an indistinct track over into the unfrequented valley turn right through the field gate follow it down along the edge of the Turn right along this lane and alongside the hedge and follow it of Scugdale. Here you will find on your right. After the gate, head forest for 600 metres (keep to the follow it back into Faceby. up to reach a gate in the top corner the ruins of Whorlton Castle in diagonally up across the middle of clear path) to join a road beside a of the field (house now just across the hamlet of Whorlton, once the field to reach a bridlegate in row of stone cottages at the hamlet to your left). Head through the gate an important village that was a fence along the foot of the steep of Huthwaite Green. and turn left then walk on through Mark Reid devastated by the Plague. Evidence forested bank. the right-hand of two gates, Walking Weekends 2014 of its former importance can be Turn right along the road beyond which continue straight Peak District, Yorkshire Dales, seen in the surrounding fields with 3passing the row of cottages on on alongside the fence on your left Lake District & Snowdonia grassy ditches and earthworks Head through the bridlegate, your right then continue along the passing the house to join the access walkingweekenders.co.uk where buildings once stood. Holy 2then take the path to the right track just beyond the house. Follow rising up for 125 metres to reach an road for a further 150 metres to Unique corporate activity days, Cross Church dates from the late this track straight on across fields old wall across the track and a short reach a farm on your right, with navigation skills and team building 11th Century, although there has for 250 metres to reach Whorlton section of paved path, just beyond lots of large barns. Immediately experiences in the great outdoors. been a church on this site since House Farm and some barns Saxon times. A 15th Century tower which is a fork in the track. Take after you have passed the stone- teamwalking.co.uk the left-hand track gently rising up built barns, turn right through the (house on your left).

Countrydiary By Phil GatesBBirdwatch y Ian Kerr

WO trees that bear flowers in the form keep it in vase in a ITH the weather at last turning event, and recorded a total of seven million of catkins are already coming into warm room overnight, distinctly wintery, everyone birds. The event also has the potential W has an excuse this weekend to T bloom, despite freezing temperatures then shake it gently to provide some real surprises, as it did and gale-force winds. Twice in the last week in the morning it will spend an hour staying warm, ideally with last year when a family at High Shincliffe I’ve found hazel with catkins in full flower produce an impressive a cup of tea or coffee, and looking out of photographed an unusual visitor to their then, a few days ago, while walking along a cloud of yellow pollen, the window for the RSPB’s Big Garden garden which turned out to be the north’s footpath on the sheltered side of a wood, I but when there is a Birdwatch. The event, which is billed as first America yellow-rumped warbler. That found an alder tree covered in hundreds of howling gale blowing the world’s biggest wildlife survey, is now would certainly be hard to repeat but, as long yellow catkins. the chances of any of in its 37th year and has charted the ups I’ve said before, with birds you never can Several spring-flowering trees species it reaching its intended and downs of many of our most common tell. shed their pollen from catkins, which shake destination are small. species. Although the event is organised for mid- in the breeze and depend on the wind to It has been calculated During the period, very familiar birds winter, the usual peak time for birds in our carry pollen to female flowers. They extend that for every successful pollination that such as song thrushes, starlings and house gardens, there are already a few signs of their catkins well before the leaves unfurl results in a hazel nut, around two and a sparrows have suffered big declines while spring. Robins, blackbirds and nuthatches because leaves would impede pollen flow, half million pollen grains are released. others, notably woodpigeons, collared have started singing and, astonishingly, but it’s a method of pollination that works Although some hazel and alder trees doves and goldfinches have steadily there was a report from of best on calm days. The pollen needs to produce pollen in mid-January there is a increased. More uncommon birds, a pair of robins with eggs on January 9, the reach female flowers that are tiny in both great deal of variation in both species and including great spotted woodpeckers, earliest date recorded by the British Trust hazel and alder. In the former they are no some won’t bloom until late February. But nuthatches and siskins have become a for Ornithology. Other traditional very more than a minute tuft of crimson stigmas in our fickle climate, with short summers, regular sight at bird tables and feeders early breeders including mistle thrushes protruding from a bud, while in alder they maybe the early blooming risk-takers for some lucky observers. Other familiar and mallards have already produced young. are clusters of red, club-shaped structures sometimes produce a better seed crop if species such as blackbirds and various tits When I was around my own local patch that are just a few millimetres long. If you their precocious flowering coincides with a have remained fairly steady. Last January on Tuesday, I noticed a black-headed gull cut a flowering twig of either species and few days of mild, calm weather. half a million people took part in the already in breeding plumage.