wAl -s$ 4r, TilAtKING s 6¡ vl C' o IN 9o dsr LEEDS UilISOt{ MAY,201ó No.416 TODAY'S \ilALK

1984 and April 2000' ouR walk today mostly repeats those we walked in February centre From st Leonard's church a lane leaves Burton Leonard was once a linen rveaving and across the vale of to the Hambleton the v'lage an¿ orrers uil*, ,o Ripon catf,edrar lane and track' we reach and cross Hills and the white Horse. By fields and woodland. St Monagh's Lane The l8ú pass Well House Farm. We enter Copgfo;t on Robert Beck and lane' best seón from a bridge further along the century Hall nearby overlooks a lake, a ieature Copgrôve has an interesting church' walkingham Hill (warren Hill) and Leaving the village, we take a bridleway which crosses crossing Shaw Beck the track rises to to cross the Knaresborough Räund. After descends limestone I Ztn c€ntury church This is magnesian Farnham with its t¡attgriut green ind outcrops' though in places you might see red sandstone "oun,ty, School where another bridleway' the Afl.er a mile of lane-walking, we reach Lingerfreld Beck) to Brearton with its church' pond and Ripon Rowel, heads a"iossî"t¿s (and ¡umiueU rig and fürrow pattern' inn. The fields h;riltt display signs of strip cultivation - Enclosure Act' Much of the lane here is orvned remnants of the open freld system before the by the Mountgarret Estates' which rises between helds and emerges on Leaving Brearton, Lillygate Lane becomes a track and Norwood Edge can be seen' A track Rakes Lane from which Knaresboro";h: H;;";;te iescending towards Robert Beck' We leave the soon leaves this lane (for Low Rakes Hou,.¡, ford and Lime Kilns Farm' track and cross a foårùriag. by the picturesque wirdrife Trust's Lime Quanies s's S I A footpath rises through woodrand of the quarries and kilns' We meet Limekiln Lane on Mickle Hill where îhere is euidence olformer Leonard about 4' 15 4 30 pm' and Scurah l-une nnUit r*urns us into Burton -

CONTENTS PAGES 2 - 5 : THE LAST \ryALK PAGE6 : JOKINGAPART pÀcB z : MAY THß NExr wALKs 2

THE LAST \ilALK

POCKLINGTON, MILLINGTON, PERCY AND TIIE ìVOLDS (E% miles) suNDAY, lTth APRTL, 2Ot6

LYING at the foot of the smooth, green slopes of the , the attractive market town of Pocklinglon slumbered on in the warm sunshine of this Sunday morning. An air of peacefulness pervaded its usually busy streets, broken occasionally by a peal of bells coming from the tower of the Parish Church of All Saints which drifted over the rooftops. There was also our chatter!

Like last month, our walk was blessed with a perfect morning - a cloudless sky, bright zunshine and calm, crisp air, ideal for walking. We met in the small ca¡ park on Station Road, just by the former railway station (which happened to be almost empty upon our arrival) and when assembled there were l1 of us, all eagerly anticipating this walk which was new to the group.

Crossing Station Road (by the mini-roundabout and toilets) we set out along Railway Stree then through the Market Place, leaving Market Street along Union Street, our interest held by the variety of shops and (later) houses as we made our way north out of the town. We joined the 81246 Kilnwick Road for a short distance before branching along Target Lane, an acc,ess lane to new housing, where a footpath led us out to Denison Road on the edge of the residential area and the edge of . Opposite, a chalþ track climbed Chapel Hill, a lesser slope on the western fringe of the Wolds but steep enough to reduce our pace to a warming, steady plodl Birdsong drifted from bushes which covered the slope to both sides of the track and views of Pocklington and the Vale of York beyond dramatically increased behind us as height was gained - a good excuse stop and starel

Having attained the ridge of Chapel Hill we passed a nearby transmitter mast and crossed the top of a field which fell steeply away to the 'levels' on our left. The cover of bushes ended revealing a sudden, marvellous view over the vast expanse of the Vale of York, the line of the Pennines rising in the far distance. We were so fortunate to have such a clear morning. It was definitely time for another stop!

A kissing gate admitted us to Pocklington Wood where a wide path pleasantly meandered through the leafless, sunny interior between the fresh, gfeen foliage of the woodland floor which included wild garlic and the colourful flowers of wood anemonies, celandines and bluebells. We dodged the occasional muddy patch but further on, around a corner, the path narrowed and became restricted beside a wire boundary fence, We were suddenly faced with slithery, clayey mud from which there was no escape! \,¡Vho was it who said that the Yorkshire Wolds were well-drained because they were made of chalk? However, the path turned another corner where the fence terminated allowing us to wallow over a wider area as we kept on alongside the woodland boundary.

Soon, though, the muddy path was restricted again by a wide swathe of 'rough' on the periphery of Kilnwick Percy golf course. But Dave had had an idea. With the rest of us 3 trailing behind him he cut across the 'rough' to walk along the grassy edge of the fairuay, parallel to the muddy footpath. The golf course wa¡¡ deserted, so what did it matter? But was it?

Unfortunately a group of golfers appeared at the tee (some distance away) and, as we quickened our pace, we were treated to shouting and gesticulations from behind. We did, of course, leave the fain'vay at the earliest opporrunity!

The diversion had been a success, thouglL because we returned to a firm, dry path which pleasantly resumed along the side of the wood until it met a track. Here we turned downhill, zig-zaggingthrough the wood. On the way down some of the group saw a deer! Returning to the foot of the hill we crossed a bridge over Pocklington Beck and joined Woodhouse Lane (a continuation of the track) which passed farm buildings outside which a jet fighter plane was parked - an incongruous sight! The track led straight to join the Pocklingfon-Millington lane, a straight, tevel lane with a wide grass verge where we could take reftrge when cars passed. The lane gave us the opportunity of looking around, particulady towards the slope of the Wolds with Millington Dale becoming more obvious as we slowly approached it, Around a bend in the lane we entered a meadow grazd by sheep and took a diagonal line across it, passing near an ancient moat. We crossed Ridings Beck over a rustic bridge at the far side of the field and continued along a fenced patl\ st fìrst beside the beck (a tributary of Pocklington Beck) which wound its way through a small cleft overhung with hawthorn bushes. Through a grassy paddock we emerged on a farmtrack which led to Mill Farm nearby but before we reached the farmhouse we climbed a small embankment in the hedgerow and entered a freld.

We kept along the perimeter of two fields and here again (though not as bad as earlier) the path was muddy or squelchy for much of its length but soon we joined a farmtrack from Clay Farm which gently climbed to meet Swineridge Lane with increasing views into Millington Dale to our right. Although by now there were some summery clouds in the sky the sun shone almost unintemrpted and it was quite warm. Millingfon Dale looked lovely in its fresh green of spring.

The houses of Millington village were not far away as we strode along the lane which contoured along the valley side. After the village nameplate we turned right, taking the lane which descended into the village where we passed delightful houses and cottages, most enjoying astounding views of the sunounding countryside and each with its own lovely garden.

The Romans were attracted to the spring water at Millington and they established a settlement c¿lled Delgovicia. Evidence of their occupancy has been found outside the village, such as coins, tiles, paving and foundations of a circular temple.

The lane turned a corner and levelled out as it passed through the village. We came to the Gait tnn, raised above road level and having a narrow terrace of picnic tables which looked $o tempting in the sunshine. The Gait Inn was named after the area of land each farmer had in the nearby Millington Pastures, one gait being the area needed for six sheep or four ewes with lambs, 4

Upon enquiry, we were permitted to use the beer garden at the rear of the pub for our own lunch but we were'encouraged' to buy drinks from the bar. We walked round to the back of the pub where the garden had been divided into 'rooms', each with picnic tables. Each was a veritable sun-trap! lt proved to be a relaxing and very enjoyable break - hot at frrst, prompting some to remove their fleeces, etc. but this turned out to be a little premature as a belt of cloud appeared from nowhere, later obscuring the sun to some extentl

It appeared again, however, as we resumed the walk, rejoining the main street and passing the R¡mblers' Rest Tea Room and Restaurant, also possessing its own outside dining area. The I lü century church of St Margaret was located at the top of the next lane we pasied but we continued along the main stre€û by more cottages and rounded a bend to another lane junction. The side lane swept downhill (passing a pond) to a house in the valley bottom. h was also part of the Minster Way which carried on along a boardwalk that crossed Millington Beck, the headwaters of Pocklington Bech and from here the main ascent of the walk began - up the opposite long, almost unrelenting valley-side to a line of hawthorn bushes which marked the ridge and the top of the climb.

\ryith hardly a stop, everyone literally rose lo the occasion and after a resolute plod lasting perhaps l0- I 5 minutes arrived (a little breathless!) at a kissing gate by the hawthorns, helped by a cool breeze and another cloudy spell which kept us cool. We had climbed from 246 ft to over 600 ft. but not yet the highest point of the walk, with Cold Wold rising a little more to a rounded top above us.

We had joined the Wolds Way at this point and, leaving the Minster Way, turned south to follow the level path running beside the line of hawthorn bushes just as the warm sun came out again. Our'rewa¡d' for the climb was now an unfolding view across the Vale of York, wider than before, its patchwork of frelds and woodland receding into the distance, Not only that, the view down into, and across, Millington Dale was very impressive, especially as further along the ridge-path the line of bushes terminated and there were no foreground obstructions. We had a bird's eye view of Millington village with its pub, tea room and church plainly visible From up here we could also see ñelds divided into strips by hedgerows, narrower fields than usual prompting the question "Were these remains of the 'gaits' in Millington Pastures?"

Further along the ridge we came to a s€at - no ordinary s€at! This was a long seat constructed from a curved tree trunk and assorted timbers and the trunk was carved with various quotations, The seat easily accommodated the I I of us and offered a photo opportunity while we rested and admired the panoramic view.

Just beyond the seat, and resuming the walk, we turned left (away from the valley) taking a short gently-rising path then we headed right, walking across the brow of an expansive, stony freld at our highest point of 627 ft. A cool breeze blew at this level but the sun continued to shine, reflecting brightly from the chalk stones. Now descending from the brow, we turned along a track beside the declivity of the wooded Warren Dale with views down through the bare tracery of trees. With the vast view still ahead of us we continued the long descent by Wanendale Plantation, then between open fields, to eventually meet a lane from Millington, where we left the Wolds Way. Easy lane walking took us down between fields to Kilnwick Percy where, by Home Farm, we entered the driveway and the grounds of Kilnwick 5

Percy Hall. The long drive passed through pleasant mixed woodland (with various trails) and we emerged by the Hall in a paved courtyard surrounded by low stone buildings, probably former stables and other ancillary buildings.

Kilnwick Percy Hall, with its classical portico and lonic columns, was built in 1845 and its extensive landscaped grounds complete with lake and the ornate Norman-style church of St Helen built in 1865. The church still retains the Norman features. The Hall is now the Madhyamaka Kadampa Buddhist Meditation Centre but the general public are invited to use the World Peace Café and the permissive footpaths running through the grounds.

It was our intention to patronise the café for our afternoon break but f¡rst we found that it had been relocated from its usual large hut to a room within the main Hall, apparently to allow extension work to proceed. After being guided through the corridors and by the toilets, signs led us into a fairly busy cafe area itself Doors also led outside to a grass terrace where picnic tables basked in the sun overlooking a broad path, ornate stone balustrading and the landscaped grounds. It was a lovely place to sit!

Then, we found that there would be a 2O-minute wait for a cup of tea! Most of us agreed that this was too long to wait but we did have a break here nevertheless (with some having a quick snack) before we moved on,

We left the terrace and, through a gate, entered the attractive parkland, passing St Helen's Church (similar to Adel Church) and aiming across the lush gfass towards the lake. A stile provided access to a boardwalk which circled the lakeside - with views back across the water and parkland towards the mansion. Trees, bushes, bulrushes and other aquatic vegetation occupied the shallows ofthe lake and the boardwalk meandered in an interesting fashion amongst it.

Reaching the western edge of the lake we entered and crossed a small field to a lane, joining it just by the main driveway entrance to Kilnwick Percy Hall Following the lane, and with views across the parkland towards the slopes of the Wolds, we passed the main entrance to Kilnwick Percy Golf Club and at a footpath sign frrrther up the lane we turned onto the golf coursÊ. Fortunately all was quiet on the fairways as we headed across the open sward, There were no remonstrations and our golfing friends of earlier in the day were not there to greet us! We also crossed the driving range which was littered (like large hailstones) with hundreds ofgolf balls,

By now, cloud had amassed and this part ofthe wdk was in duller, cooler conditions. We skirted Spring Wood and then left the golf course, taking a narrow path which continued between a fence and a line of trees on the edge of the golf course. We were on the crest of a hill, the southern side of Chapel Hill which we had climbed in the morning and similarly the ground fell away dramatically revealing an extensive view which included the western edge of the Wolds diminishing towards the plain of the River . A waymark informed us that we were walking a section of a number of trails - The Chalkland Way, The York and Humber Trails, The Pilgrimage of Grace Heritage Trail and The . An information board also told us the background to the Pilgrimage of Grace Heritage Trail and interpreted the view in front of us. 6

William Wilberforce wa¡¡ a former Pocklington Grammar School pupil. He campaigned energetically on numerous moral issues of his day but it is for his determination to bring an end to slavery that he is most remembered. The abolition of slavery in the British Empire was finally secured on 26û July, 1833.

Other Pocklingon notables were Major Percy Stewart who, with his wife, developed the water lily ponds of Burnby Hall in 1904, now a National Collection, and Thomas Pelling, a dare-devil performer, otherwise known as 'The Flying lvfan', who died in 1733 whilst performing one of his acts.

We were nearing the end of the walk and from this high-level path with its wonderful views we started descending first through an area of scrubland then through modern housing but before meeting St Helen's Road, at the bottom of the hill, we turned along a parallel tbotpath which wound its way through a strip of woodland (St Helen's Well Wood) before eventually joining the estate road. This road, in turn, led out to the Bl24ó Kilnwick Road opposite Woldgate School and from here we returned through Pocklington using our outgoing route, a leisurely stroll along roadside pavements, catching things of interest that we had missed eadier. The town was st¡ll quiet.

Surprisingly, we returned to the car park much earlier than expected. True, we had a shorter afternoon breah but much of the walk itself had been a steady amble. The sun was shining warmly again from a clearing sky, adding the fìnishing touches to what had been a memorable walk. We would try to forget the mud of the morning (which had all-but disappeared from our boots because of the lush grass of the parkland and sward of the golf course), and remember the amazingly clear and vast views coupled with the lovely, sunny pastoral scenes and wild flowers, also the anractive village of Millington and the interesting and delightful setting of Kilnwick Percy Hall,

JOKING APART

. What do you cell a deaf country singer? Dolly Pardon.

. A friend said to me, he said "l've just removed my son's ears and glued them to his chin." I said "You're spoiling that child".

. An alphabet grenade - if that goes offit could spell disaster!

. I was mugged rec€ntly at Victoria Station and I burst into tears. A policeman came up to me and said. "I am fining you ten pounds". I said "For crying out loud". He said "Yes". 7

MAY

'NE'RE cast a clout till May be out', commonly misunderstood as meaning one should continue to wrap up warm until the end of the month, But the May refened to here is in fact another name for the hawthonr, whose beautiful fragrant milky blossom appears in this month, to stunning effect particularly on rolling chalk downland.

May is without doubt the best month to be walking along our lanes. The verges will be rich with cow parsley as well as buttercups. daisies and dandelions, and the adjoining fields will be a rolling pageant of sparkling yellow as the oilseed rape flowers during this month.

A sunlit walk in beech or oak woods will be a joy as each tree shows of its tÌesh green attire.

THE NEXT \ryALKS

AS mentioned in the last Newsheet, the first of the three evening walks comes next - the long-awaited 'Sicklinghall Saunter', [t is a walk ofjust 37¡ miles long on easy tracks and fieldpaths (mud-willingl) and sections of lane. There are good views of Lower Wharfedale and there is the interest of the Wood Hall Hotel and its small surrounding community, See the attached poster for more detail.

DATE : MONDAY EVENING, æ.d MAY,2016

TIME : Ple¡se meet 6.45 for 7 pm stal (we return cbout 9.00 - 9.15 pm)

PLACE : Please park and meet in cer park of the Scotts Arms p.h., Sicklinghell - sway from the building if possible please. Allow Yz hour from N. Leeds.

OUR next full-day walk must rank as one of the best walks in the Dalesl Starting from one of the best-loved places in the Dales - Grassinglon - we pass through high meadows with glorious views across the valley, descending to Hebder¡, then through the lovely valley of Hebden Beck to reach the riverbank of the River Wharfe by Hebden suspension bridge. The Dales Way takes us upriver, passing Linton Church and Linton Falls. Further upriver we pass Ghaistrill's Strid before we enter Grass Woods where we follow an undulating path, to return to Grassington through meadows and along the delightful Cove Lane See attached poster for daails.

DATE : SUNDAY, I2th JUNE,2OI6

TIME : Pleese meet 10.45 for ll am start (we return about 4.15 - 4.30 pm)

PLACE : Plcase park and meel in the Yorkshire D¡les Nationnl P¡rk c¡r park in Grassington (offthe 86265 HeMen road). Grassington c¡n either be I

appnorchcd from Skipton (862ó5) or Addingham/Bolton Abbey (8ó160) or vie Greenhow from Otley (8ó265). There ¡re toilets (20p) ¡t the car prrk ¡nd ¡ visitor cenhc. Allow about I hour fiom Lrwnswood ere¡ of Lccds.

Pleare notc. it is possible to join us eithcr in thc morninefor ¡ shorter w¡lk of 4 7r miles ¡s far as the Linton Falls then returning up a ginnel lo the car perk for 2pm or !úg afternoon for a shorter walk oJ 4 Yz miles starting at l.50pm tppnor. ¡t Linton F¡lls (access to the falls from the car park via the s¡me ginnel) returning to Grassington with the m¡in group rbout 4.15 - 4.1) pm. Lunch is necded for the morning w¡lk and ¡n ¡fternoon sn¡ck could be brought for the ¡fternoon wellq though there ¡re d¡o cefes (or ices) in Gressington.

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ITEMS FOR THE JUNE NEWSHEET by lo June, please

THIS NEWSTIEET WILL APPEAR ON TT{E UNISON WEBSTTE

(www. I eedzun i sonlg,org. uk)

Tel.Nos. 0ll3 2675487 (home) Stephen Johnson 0779641215ó (mobile) 22 Wynford Rise E-mail address w¡lkineowl2(Asmail.com LEEDS LSI6 6HX

AJ o ctKcuLAR wArK 31, MttEs (s-bk-) EASY. A 9I CKLINGAALL SAUNTER.

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