Yorkshire Walks

Car park at the Rabbit Hill Country Store where the walk started

Starting out from the Rabbit Hill Country Store

Heading down the bank to the kissing gate

By the designated start time of 10.00am about 35 walkers had assembled. After a briefing by our walk leader we all set off from the Rabbit Hill Country Store car park along the access road heading south just to the east of the A168. After about 100m we turned left off the access road and down a grassy bank to a kissing gate through a tall hedge into the fields.

The fifth Boroughbridge Walking Festival took place over the Easter weekend. My wife and I joined the Rabbit Hill walk today and it turned out to be a very pleasant route. Each walk in the festival has a sponsor and today's walk is sponsored by the Rabbit Hill Country Store. We joined the other walkers for this event at the Rabbit Hill Country Store off the A168 about 5km south of Borough Bridge at map ref. SE 403 609.

About to turn left off the access road down the grassy bank

Kissing gate into the fields

Recent tree planting by the path

Queue at the stile

Heading around the lake shore

The footpath had to be diverted around the lake and rejoined its original route at the top of the field. Crossing each stile was a slow process with 35 people trying to cross with some queuing and those already across gathering on the other side. From this stile we all continued along the path across a field of oilseed rape.

Until about 5 years ago this land was used for open cast sand & gravel extraction and the area has now been restored to agricultural use and wild life ponds. A good deal of new tree planting was evident along the route of the footpath. The path dropped down across restored grassland in a little valley where the bottom of the valley was now a large lake.

Waiting to cross the next stile by the lake

Heading around the lake shore

Crossing the stile into the field of oilseed rape

Gathering the group together after the kissing gate

Reaching Mickledale Farm

Turning off Priestcarr Lane towards the cemetery

We headed in a north westerly direction towards Marton-cum-Grafton for about 300m. Then we all turned right off the road to follow a footpath across the field to a cemetery, now also a nature reserve, next to Legram Lane.

Then we crossed some grassland and along a farm access track past Mickledale Farm to the public road (Longlands Field Road) at map ref. SE 413 615.

Start of the track to Mickledale Farm

Heading towards Marton from Mickledale Farm

Approaching the cemetery at Legram Lane

The old cemetery and nature reserve next to Legram Lane

Crossing the cemetery to Legram Lane

Walking along Back Lane at Marton

At the junction we turned right and walked along back Lane for about 300m to the junction with Reas Lane on the left and a farm track called Goker Lane on the right. Here we turned right and walked along Goker Lane.

This cemetery was also the site of a Norman church that was demolished in 1873 and a new church, Christ Church, was built in Marton on Church Lane in 1875. At Legram Lane we turned left and continued along the lane for about 350m to the junction with Back Lane on the edge of Marton.

Walking along Legram Lane towards Marton

Turning off Back Lane onto the Goker Lane track

Following Goker Lane down to cross Goker Beck

Crossing Goker Beck

Queue to cross this stile at the top of the field

Looking back there was a very pleasant view across the little valley of Goker Beck to Marton-cum-Grafton with the fields full of ewes and their lambs and everywhere lovely fresh spring greenery.

At the bottom of the slope we crossed Goker Beck and followed the path climbing gently up the hillside at the edge of the field for about 400m to a wooden step stile over the fence next to a deep ditch at the top of the field.

Following the path up from Goker Beck

Lovely old ash tree where we crossed the hedge

View across the little valley of Goker Beck to Marton-cum-Grafton with the fields full of ewes and their lambs

Assembling by the potato field after the stile & hedge

Stile at the corner of Marton Wood

Heading for Woodside Farm along the lane

There was a wide strip around the field edge ('a headland') so we followed this rather than cross the ploughed and cultivated potato field. There was our usual queue to cross the stile at the corner of Marton Wood and then we followed the path around Marton Wood to the lane just north of Ives Farm at map ref. SE 418 617. At the lane we turned left and walked along the lane past Woodside Farm and then turned left along the access track to Marton Cottage Farm.

From this stile we followed the path through the hedge and then turned right to walk around the edge of the field and alongside Marton Wood to the corner of the wood at map ref. SE 422 616. The official route of the public right of way crosses the cultivated potato field to Grassgills farm. At the farm the path turns right to reach the same corner of Marton Wood.

Looking over the potato field to Grassgills farm

Path at the side of Ives Farm

Turning off the lane towards Marton Cottage Farm

Young cattle dashing to see the invasion of walkers at Ives Farm

Approaching Marton Cottage Farm

The track from Marton Cottage Farm to Moor Lane

We followed this track for about 350m to its junction with Moor Lane at map ref. SE 420 606 on Great Ouseburn Moor (it's all farmland not heather moor).

Just before we reached Marton Cottage Farm the path veered right off the access track and followed the edge of the field around the farm and then rejoined a farm access track on the south east side of the farm.

Re-joining the track beyond Marton Cottage Farm

Arriving at Moor Lane

Turning right onto Moor Lane

Off road motor bike quietly passing us on Moor Lane

After about 900m along Moor Lane we passed a bridleway that joined the lane from our left, and it's from here that the motor bikes were emerging onto Moor Lane.

At Moor Lane we turned right and walked along the lane. At intervals off-road motor bikes came along the lane towards us travelling slowly and quietly on some kind of organised event.

Following Moor Lane

More motor bikes turning on to Moor Lane from the bridleway on our left - all very quiet and friendly

The new refuse incinerator off the A168 seen from Moor Lane

I don't think it looks too bad and we have to deal with all our rubbish somewhere. We continued along Moor Lane past South Farm to a farm access road next to the A168.

Over the hedge to our left we could see the large structure of the new municipal incinerator built this year for Harrogate Borough Council.

Continuing our way along Moor Lane

Approaching South Farm along Moor Lane

The access road next to the A168 heading back to Rabbit Hill

A final briefing from our walk leader . . .

It had been a very pleasant route through gently rolling countryside. The whole route was 8km and we had completed it in 2hour 30mins without any significant stops except the large party queues at each stile.

At this access road we turned right and walked along the access road for about 700m, back to the Rabbit Hill Country Store. As we neared Rabbit Hill we had a final briefing from our walk leader and then dispersed into the car park at the end of our walk.

Heading back to Rabbit Hill along the access road

. . . then we dispersed into the car park at Rabbit Hill

The entrance to Rabbit Hill Country Store and the car park at the end of our walk