Michelle, leading in Michael's absence.

Richmond – Billy Bank – Hudswell Wood – Whitcliffe Wood – Applegarth – Whitcliffe Scar – Belleisle – Richmond.

Lots of fine autumn sunshine. Warm in sheltered spots. Occasional cloud.

Michelle, Ron, Sandy, Ashley, George, Evelyn.

Michael - had a cold.

Bernie - work commitments.

Carol - too busy.

Comments

After the cars had been parked in various nearby car parks, we met in the picturesque market place beside the castle. A stall in the market place was selling scoop flavoured ice cream. There were lots of interesting shops. We descended to the river Swale down narrow cobbled streets to a beautiful waterfall, made more impressive by recent heavy rainfall. After walking downstream a bit we crossed the river at the station and headed upstream along Billy Bank and Hudswell Wood.

On coming out of the woods, we had lunch at the riverside beside a bridge. George sat on a manhole cover. After lunch Evelyn returned to Richmond by the same route. The rest of us had difficulty finding the path upstream on the other side of the river so had to walk along the road, past a house with a T-reg Rolls Royce, an Austin Healey and a Fordson tractor in the back garden. Then we found a lane which took us back to the river. We passed notices saying that the landowners welcomed careful walkers and a memorial to Jane from her 12 beloved dogs – woof, woof. We climbed up past some cottages to a tarmac lane which skirted around the escarpment. Eventually we found the path on to the scar and met a friendly collie. There were good views towards the North York Moors and up Swaledale. Also, there were lots of fine, tall trees.

Our afternoon tea stop was at the monuments (three) to Robert Williance, who on a misty night in 1606 fell off his flighty young horse and broke his leg. To prevent the onset of gangrene, Williance cut open the body of his dead mount and placed his injured leg inside. This did not prevent the leg having to be amputated when he was rescued. The leg was buried in the Richmond churchyard. Williance, who subsequently became mayor of Richmond, was re-united with his leg after his death in 1616.

On the road back towards Richmond, we spotted a teepee encampment which was being used for a wedding. Several portaloos were provided for the relief of guests. There were people playing tennis at the upper end of Richmond. We spotted artichokes and a large buddleia bush in gardens.

By 5pm all the tearooms in the market square were closed so we had to go for afternoon tea in the Town Hall, a well-kept building with an iron-framed roof and nice loos. Tea and various sorts of cakes were available at reasonable prices. A CAMRA beer festival was taking place in the hall at the same time with large scale games, e.g. chess and draughts provided for participants.

Wildlife/Flora/Animals:

Birds: Tree creepers, blue tits, heron, magpies, pheasants (several with no tail feathers), jays, woodpeckers and a robin.

Insects: midges.

Plants/Trees: Harebells, wild raspberries and nice garden flowers in Richmond.

Mammals/others: Rabbits, large sheep, black-faced sheep, a sheep with a coiff, black sheep. Horse and foal – not enticed by Sandy. A black cat with a greyhound for a neighbour and a ginger and white cat.

Manor House Inn, Carterway Head – our first visit since October 1995. Nice meal, but too far west for Ashley. Draughty door. The desserts had a heavy bias towards chocolate.

Waiting at the start

Walkers

Castle

Waterfall

River walk

Bridge

Riverside

Lunch view

Richmond

Which Way?

Signposts

Arial view

Sun and shadow

Memorial

Williance Leap

Scenery

Wedding