Post 184: 4 September 2017, A walk to my trig point.
Following our walk around Sutton Bank I decided that Victoria, who desperately wanted to see heather which is not in the area of Germany where she lives, should see the view from my adopted trig point on my North of England Way,
On the drive there we stopped alongside the River Rye, where a Canadian walking friend is at peace after passing far too young.
Opposite the spot are fine views of Rievaulx Abbey.
The Cistercian Abbey was founded by Walter L’Espec in 1132. Its importance can be judged by the fact that thirty-five years after it was founded there were 140 monks, 249 lay brothers and 260 hired laymen, a large community. The Abbey nestles in a tree-covered valley whose narrowness accounts for the fact that the church is aligned from north to south instead of from the usual east to west. The monks created great wealth, from sheep farming (at one time they owned 14,000 sheep), iron working, fishing and salt production on the coast. Canals were used for floating blocks of stone on rafts from the River Rye to the Abbey for carving. Around the time of the Dissolution, however, the abbey declined and fell into debt and by 1536 only twenty-two monks remained. After 400 years of life, the site was eventually stripped for building stone and, in due course passed to the Duncombe family. It was acquired by the state in 1918, and is now superbly looked after by English Heritage.
Continuing our drive to the trig point, I felt we had earned a reward of one of my favourite Ryeburn ice-creams and a coffee in the cafe next to the car park in Hemsley.
Helmsley is a delightful market town, but we had no time to look around as it was now after 3.30pm.
Refreshed we headed out of Helmsley towards Pockley, then ascended along a dead straight one car lane past Low Farm, Middle Farm and High Farm, where we parked.
Coming from Germany, Victoria must have wondered where on earth she was going!
We walked up the ascending track. It was some 25 years earlier I had done this same walk wondering where I was going as I devised my coast to coast route. I had been disappointed that my route had so far not reached the proper heather moorland. All was to change when we went through the gate at the top of the track and a vista opened up before us that made us speechless.
We turned right along the escarpment to my adopted trig point, where one day I will rest in peace along with at least one other walking friend who is already there. Bookings are still open!
I do need to paint my trig again! Next Spring?
Whilst sitting on a bench dedicated to Dee (does anyone know who Dee is?) we listened to the silence of the place and looked at the expansive view of a patchwork of heather.
By a strange coincidence, I came back to this point in much better weather a few days later on a new walk I had just started, The Cot Combo Walk (see later blogs).
We then descended the heather lined track back to the car.
Victoria was very happy that she had seen so much heather.
It was about 5pm by the time we got back to the car.
Interestingly ashes cannot be scattered in Germany, so perhaps one day Victoria may decide to join me and my other walking friend at the trig. A walking club with a difference and attitude!
Another must for the Best of Yorkshire in 8 Days.
Miles Walked 3.
secretwalkscom 