Jo’s Monday walk : Lealholm to Glaisdale

Did you miss the Duck Race?

Did you miss the Duck Race?

I try for variety in my walks but this week it took a great effort of will not to drag you back to the seaside!  As we’re in that balmy British time of year (no, I didn’t say barmy, but I could well have done) when the villages all have their shows, I thought we should head for Yorkshire.  As luck would have it, we do seem to be having a Summertime this year, so let’s make the most of it. Which brings me to Lealholm and the Duck Race.

Now I feel a bit of a fraud, because I’ve never actually witnessed the Duck Race.  To be honest, I prefer the village peaceful, as it is in the above shot, taken the week before.  Timing’s the thing, isn’t it?  On the church notice board, I saw that I had also missed some ‘Open’ gardens at Glaisdale.   I guess I need a year planner.  Never mind- I can compensate with Poet’s Cottage, the garden centre at Lealholm.  Shall we start there?

How about this for a peony?

How about this for a peony?

Central to the village and on the banks of the River Esk, many people come to Lealholm purely to visit this beautifully laid out shrubbery and plant centre.  Named for John Castillo, a poet and lay preacher, the site was previously home to a paper mill.  You may have arrived by train, but more likely by car, and it’s just a short downhill stroll from the parking to Poet’s Cottage.

As usual, click on any photo to open the galleries

A path threads between the shrubs
flowers
And foliage
Hot yellows
Cool greens
And even an orchid or two
Best of all, truly luscious clematis

Best of all, truly luscious clematis

The gardeners among you satisfied, it’s time to visit Lealholm’s other main attraction- the stepping stones.  Young and old seem to delight in these, and on a sunny day much hand holding and teetering goes on.  It’s a social occasion for all the family and blankets are spread, ready to lounge with a picnic.

Paddling’s allowed for ‘big sis’
Slippery when wet?
Gone fishing!

I was quite surprised to learn from Wikipedia that a settlement at Lealholm can be traced all the way back to the Domesday Book of 1086.  It has always been a traditional farming community, prosperity developing because it provided a convenient crossing place on the River Esk.

The village sits at the bottom of a glacial U-shaped valley, Crunkly Ghyll.  A fording point existed beside the Board Inn, a coaching inn which dates back to 18th century.  Today children wade and ducks paddle in the shadow of the 17th century arched bridge.  The name Lealholm appears to derive from the Old English for a place of willow trees.  No small part of its charm are the sheep, ambling amicably on the village green.

View from the top of the village

View from the top of the village, over Crunkly Ghyll

St. James the Greater Church
The railway station, high above the village
Local map

Lealholm lies on the Esk Valley Railway Line, which runs from Middlesbrough to Whitby, a distance of 35 miles.  With a little careful planning you can enjoy a day out on the railway, and even fit in a walk between stations.

From beside the bridge, a footpath follows the course of the River Esk towards Glaisdale village, 2 miles away.  The river twists and squirms its way through the valley.  There’s nothing I like better than the company of a river on my walks.

Strangely, this sat in a field by the river!
With just a few sheep for company
And the occasional farmhouse
The river idles below us
Its banks expanding and contracting
With a wealth of wild flowers
We pass below the railway embankment
And beside a humped back bridge
With evidence of another ford
And I find, in the long grass, another jewel of an orchid

In theory you could catch the train back from Glaisdale, or you could simply retrace your steps.  I hope to show you a little of Glaisdale village and the Beggar’s Bridge in another post.  In the meantime, I’m sure you could be tempted to a slice of delicious cake from Beck View Tea Room, or even one of the ‘specials’ from The Board Inn.  You must have earned it by now.

And, should you be wondering, yes, they do tip a heap of yellow plastic ducks into the river.  If you have one of the fastest ducks you can win a prize, but the event is to raise money for charity.

A date for next year's diary?

A date for next year’s diary?

walking logo

Lots of walks to share again this week, and a huge thank you to everybody for taking the time both to contribute and to read.  Details of how to take part can be found on my Jo’s Monday walk page or on the logo above.  I’ve had 2 cups of coffee already this morning!

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Anabel was the first to share this week!  Expect a bench or two.

River Earn and Laggan Hill

Botanic Gardens do vary! Pauline was disappointed in this and I can see why :

A walk in a Botanic garden

Jude is a lady who never disappoints! Take a look at some great Quoit photos!

A walk in the past

Nobody out there sees the world quite like Drake!  Ducks are so endearing :

Above not only the water

More water, boats and a beautiful rainbow, from Ruth :

A walk around Sullivan’s Cove, Hobart

Canal restoration is a subject that I love.  Even in black and white, this is exceptionally beautiful!

Show me the Wey

I like surprises!  This is a really nice one from Violet Sky :

A nice place to live

Starting in the rain, with Geoff… well, it is English Summertime!

Eastbourne to Alfriston and back- a walk of two halves

Something a little unusual for you now.  Thanks a lot, Jaspa!

Three Rivers Petroglyphs, New Mexico

Rosemay is currently in Perth, but she has a lovely London-based daughter :

On the trail of Notting Hill : Portobello Road markets

Exotic and beautiful!   A world I will never know except through Lisa’s eyes :

Vanua Balavu: Walking the Nabavatu Plantation

And more from the Southern Hemisphere.  Some fond memories with Jill :

Come with me along historic Marine Parade, Napier

Let’s round it all off with a bit of drama!

Killing Nanny Meg

I hope you have time to visit all the walks.  Maybe pop back later?  Thanks again everybody, and see you next week.

109 comments

    1. Thank you so much! That’s really kind of you. 🙂 I’ve just returned from another lovely day down on the Moors. It was really beautiful (as I expect you’ll see at some point 🙂 )

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  4. What a lovely garden path in your first picture, Jo. So intimate and quaint. I never tire of the children navigating the stepping stones. Duck races are popular here as well, and a large charity event is held just down the street from us once a year.

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  5. Whenever I look at your Monday Walk posts, I wish I lived close enough to go walking with you. What a lovely place to go for a stroll. I might even be tempted to buy a super fast duck for next year’s race. 🙂

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    1. I wish you lived near enough to give me a hug, Ad! I’m told it’s 100 degrees in the Algarve right now and here it’s back to clouds. I suppose I should be thankful for small mercies. 🙂
      Wonder if we could get a motorised duck?

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  6. Pingback: Strolling the garden in the wood | Lucid Gypsy

  7. Jo, I probably tell you this every week but I think this is my favorite walk. 🙂 I wish I could walk along that trail and see all those gorgeous flowers right now. Thankfully, I have you to walk for me while I sit here at my desk. Thanks!

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    1. I’m ‘chuffed’ that you should say this 🙂 Every week I tell myself ‘this is a good walk’, but I’m not always sure if they’re not boring/too long etc so it’s nice to have some reassurance. Thanks a lot 🙂

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  8. Pingback: Out of town | Le Drake Noir

  9. What a perfect day for a walk Jo! I love learning about new locations and this is a part of the world I haven’t visited (to my knowledge possibly as a very small child!). We used to go as far as Whitby on family outings but this must be a bit further north. Love the places names.. Crunkly Ghyll! I’ve heard of the Esk Vally Railway – that would be a great day out if we’re ever over with our granddaughters – I also love railways too! Thanks for including my Notting Hill “walk” in your walking list this week. I will read up on them all later this afternoon with a nice mug of hot tea (it’s still cold here!). Have a lovely week 🙂

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    1. It was a beautiful day, Rosemay! Lealholm is only about 10 miles from Whitby, but inland, of course. The valleys are like a switchback, with lots of lovely villages. The heather is just turning pink and I’m desperate to get back down that way, but the weather’s not so great this week 😦 Annoying because I have time available 🙂 Thanks for your company again.

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      1. You’re welcome Jo enjoyable walk as always ! I have never explored further inland than Whitby (apart from the drive to get there over the moors) – one day! Congratulations on being named one of the “Hottest 20 Travel Blogs of 2015” – sorry if I’m late to the party but I just noticed the icon in your sidebar and clicked on it to read more – great achievement well deserved! Hope the weather has perked up again and have a lovely weekend 🙂

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    2. Heavy rain this morning but it didn’t last. Still managed to pop down to Saltburn to inspect the yarn bombing 🙂 Thanks for noticing the icon, Rosemay. You’re the first to comment on it 🙂 I snuggled it into the sidebar and wondered if anyone would see it. You passed the test!
      Have a great weekend 🙂

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      1. Oh I’m glad to hear that Jo! I thought you must have done a post on it and I’d missed it somehow – great news and I’m glad I picked it up! I’ve just been looking up about the Saltburn yarn bombing – very interesting I think I saw something about this on the tv a while ago. Hope you had a great time checking it all out and enjoy your weekend too 🙂

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  11. Those flowers are wonderful, Jo, my favourite is the peony. Like you, I love a walk beside a stream, there is so much movement. I don’t know how i’d go with my rubber duck in a duck race because the dogs chewed it 😉 But it sounds like a load of fun 😀

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  12. Wonderful flowers! Even though I might forget about them in sight of the stepping stones… love these kind of things!
    This week I propose to visit Christchurch. Not the most beautiful place in New Zealand but the one that touched me the most (I did not write the post in “walk format” but it is the result of some walks… and I thought it was worth to share this story).
    https://colibrist.wordpress.com/2015/07/12/christchurch-destruction-creativity-hope-new-zealand/
    Thanks for this nice walk, have a great week!
    Laia

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  13. Pingback: Christchurch: destruction, creativity and hope | Colibrist

  14. I know how you feel about the sea, but this is one gorgeous walk in a very pretty village. The flowers, stream and peaceful scenery are just wonderful. I could live there if I didn’t know it would be much too cold in winter!

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    1. Next week, the sea, Gilly! Unless I get distracted in the meantime, which does sometimes happen. Not likely this week cos the weather’s changed 😦 Thanks, darlin’. 🙂

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  20. Another beautiful walk and in the Yorkshire Dales, one of the places my heart resides. 🙂 Stunning photo of a peony to start with and enjoyed looking at the stepping stone photos. Quite a big bigger than the ones at Bolton Abbey! I have seen the duck race on the news and it always seems a lot of fun.

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