Report by Paul Coates pictures by Colin and Sherlock

Wednesday 23rd September 2009

Wombleton, Welburn, St. Gregory's Minster, Hodge Beck, Hold Coldron, Brockhill Hagg, Mell Bank Wood, Sleightholme Dale Lodge, Aumery Park, Intake Plantation, Waingate Farm, Fadmoor, Gillamoor (Royal Oak), Fadmoor, Starfits Lane, Hagg Farm, Robin Hood's Howl, Kirkdale, Field Path, Wombleton (12 miles).

Cloudy & warm morning, sunny & breezy afternoon

Nathan, Paul, Col, Paul Craggs, Paul 'Sherlock' Holmes, Ray, Jack, Bob.

Ray, Sherlock.

It was Wednesday walking today instead of our traditional Thursday. This was because quite a few of our number wished to participate in the annual retired, and almost retired, bus driver's soiree tomorrow. Of course switching to Wednesday upsets the whole equilibrium of the week and those of us who won't be indulging in the pleasures on offer at the Trades & Labour Club will spend tomorrow thinking its Friday instead.

The road on the journey north seemed to be much busier than usual with many trucks in evidence, usually in front of us. Of course we blamed this on the fact we were out on a Wednesday. In fact Wednesday got the blame for anything out of the ordinary today.

Nathan leads the way

There's been little rain these last few weeks so it was no surprise to find Hodge Beck bereft of water. Just beyond St. Gregory's Minster in Kirkdale the beck flows underground and is usually only seen flowing above ground after prolonged rain.

We stopped for our morning break alongside the farm at Hold Coldron. Long before we got there we heard the dogs in full voice alerting whoever might be listening that someone was approaching the farm. Eventually they quietened down only for Craggsy to set them off again while he was engaged in a bout of uncontrollable sneezing. Further along the track at Sleightholme Dale Lodge there was a variation on the early warning system when a gaggle of cackling geese noisily announced our presence.

The old farm buildings at Aumery Park looked as though they've been practically rebuilt. The original buildings could be best described as 'tumble down' so we assume the now smart looking Aumery Park is more of a holiday home and less of a farm.

Geese cackling

From St. Gregory's Minster onwards we'd been steadily climbing uphill, but after Aumery Park it's a much steeper climb up through Intake Plantation. We encountered a few specimens of the allegedly poisonous fly agaric toadstool so beloved of fairytale book illustrators.

Birdwatcher Jack claimed that some far away specks way up in the sky were in fact Pink Footed Geese. We reckon he's either got paint splashes on his binocular lenses or he's been at the aforementioned toadstools!

We were soon walking through the village of Fadmoor but were disappointed to find that the 'local honey' sign had been taken down for the winter. We passed by a house with two round windows which looked like a pair of eyes peering out of the side of the house. All that was missing was a smiley mouth below the eyes to give the house a most distinctive look. Indeed we suggested such an addition to the house owner who was coming through his gate as we passed by, but he didn't seem impressed. No imagination some people.

A depleted FAC enjoying the day

And so onward to the Royal Oak at Gillamoor. As different landlords have come and gone over the years the Royal Oak has occasionally been out of bounds to the FAC as lunchtime openings have been sporadic. Fortunately the last couple of years or so have seen the pub once again open on mid week lunchtimes. Long may it continue.

We thoughtfully sat in a comfortable side room in the pub so as not to cause distress to the other customers who might have been alarmed at the sight of grown men grudgingly handing over money to the trio of 'collectors'. There were even murmurings and whisperings concerning next year's planned Lyke Wake Walk. "You might be laughing now......." threatened chief dirger Bobbo, leaving the rest of his sentence to our fevered imaginations.

But all good things come to an end and we were soon out in the fresh air and on our way back towards Fadmoor on the second half of our walk.

The first autumnal hues

We somehow missed the path we needed across the fields but a quick detour past Hagg Farm soon had us back on track. We could have missed the path because it was Wednesday, but in truth we were all too busy gabbing instead of looking.

It had been hard going on the feet today due to the bone dry ground we were walking upon. However the path through the thickly wooded and dark and gloomy Robin Hood's Howl can usually be relied upon to remain muddy no matter how long it is since it last rained. Although the path was in fairly good condition it still had its muddy and slippery moments.

Once out of the shelter of the wood we noticed that quite a breeze had sprung up. But the sun was out so it wasn't unpleasant. The aching feet were given one last workout over the rough and stony field paths beyond Kirkdale, but before too long we were back at our journey's end in Wombleton.

And so endeth another days walking. As ever a good day out but somehow walking on Wednesday's just doesn't seem right.............

Craggsy and his mate