Jo’s Monday walk : Egton Bridge

This isn't actually Egton Bridge, but isn't it pretty?

This isn’t actually Egton Bridge, but it is a bridge in Egton, and a very pretty one!

And just beyond it lie two lovely sequences of stepping stones.  But I’m getting ahead of myself! My walk today is for the physically fit among you but, if you like, I’ll do the hard part and you can join in on the flat.  How does that sound?

We begin at the Beggar’s Bridge, just outside the village of Glaisdale, on the River Esk.  It was my intention to walk you up into the village for a look around, but one of us had the good idea to follow the river in the direction of Egton Bridge.  It looked fine on the map, so who was I to argue?

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It's a distinctive looking bridge, but not in use any more

It’s a distinctive looking bridge, but not in use any more

Beggar’s Bridge has a tale to tell.  An inscription on the bridge suggests that it was built in 1619. Thomas Ferries, the son of a moorland farmer, used to ford the River Esk to court his young lady, Agnes.  The lady’s father did not consider him a suitable match for his daughter, so Thomas resolved to seek his fortune at sea.  With the river in spate, he was sadly unable to cross over to kiss his sweetheart goodbye.  Returning a wealthy man, Thomas of course married his Agnes, and, quite naturally, built a bridge on the very spot.

Today the crossing would have resulted in merely damp feet

Today the crossing would have resulted in merely damp feet

‘A tale of trods and bridges’.  Wouldn’t that have made a great post title?  I’m tempted to change it, but I’m already well into my stride. In an uphill direction, unfortunately!  This is no path that idles beside the river.  I should have been warned when I saw this stone.

A message, do you suppose?

A message, do you suppose?

Part of this walk follows an ancient pathway, paved with stone slabs, know as ‘trods’.  They are common throughout the York Moors National Park, and the oldest date back to medieval times, when monks traveled extensively hereabouts.  The path I am taking, through East Arncliffe Wood, is known locally as ‘Monk’s Trod’.  Those monks must have had much stronger legs than me!

Onwards and upwards!

Onwards and upwards!

Up I trod, thanking my lucky stars that there hadn’t been much rain to render the trods slippy. Ferns tickle my calves and a hint of honeysuckle tickles my nose.  In no time at all the river is far below, and I am surrounded by dense green.

A tickle of honeysuckle
And one of fern
And look what I found, in a clearing!
An ancient tribute to man’s best friend

Beyond the trods the path continues to wind and dip through the woods.  I can hear the whine and clunk of loggers, striving to keep the forest in check.  Just as I am starting to tire, the woods part and I am out on a country lane.  I can’t say I’m sorry.  It’s now just a case of rolling down into the village of Egton Bridge, past another ford, and a cottage or two.  A good time to join me!

Nearby the ford
Speaks for itself!
And it’s pretty woodshed
I spot this promising sight over the hedge

On the edge of the village I spot this promising sight over the hedge

But then this sign catches my eye

But then a sign catches my eye

You know what happens next, don’t you?  The highlight of the walk for me.  I didn’t even know that there were stepping stones at Egton Bridge, but my good friend Jude remarked that she had stayed there when her boys were small.  She remembered some stepping stones, but thought they might have been the ones I featured in my Lealholm walk.  To my great delight, I found not just one set of stepping stones, but two.

The first stepping stones, in dappled shade

The first stepping stones, in dappled shade

And the second set

And the second set

And a few toadstools

With a few colourful toadstools

And these beautiful phlox alongside a small lock gate

And these beautiful phlox, alongside a small lock gate

After a wander around the pretty village, I’m beckoned by the sunny benches outside the Horseshoe Hotel.  It seems like a good time to pause for food, before tackling the route back to Glaisdale.  There’s a Specials board beside the bar, and the sandwiches come with wonderful homemade wedges.  The river chatters along in the background.

Before leaving Egton Bridge, I’m drawn to the garden at St. Hedda’s Church, and the memorial shrine to Father Nicholas Postgate.  A Catholic priest, he was executed at York in 1679 for his work in the priesthood, on the Moors.

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Then I’m happy to retrace my path over the stepping stones, and follow the River Esk out of the village.  The beatific scene lulls me into a false sense of security.  A vintage car tootles past.  I fail to realise that an uphill clamber lies ahead.

This chap says nothing!
I could have lingered
But it’s time to leave the river and climb

A well disguised footpath leads off to the left, almost at the top of the bank, and steeply up to a stile.  Through the woods, there’s a field or two to cross, but then it’s all downhill.

And finally I'm within sight of the Beggar's Bridge

And finally the Beggar’s Bridge is back in sight!

Details of my walk can be found on this link which includes a free downloadable map.  It’s a 5 mile circular and you’ll be just in time for the Gooseberry Show at Egton Bridge if you hurry.  It takes place on the first Tuesday in August every year.

I hope you enjoyed the walk (especially my uphill bits), and that you’ll stay for coffee and a read.

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Many thanks for all your support.  Last week was a bumper week for shares, but it’s a little less strenuous this week.  I’d love you to join me, whenever you feel like taking a stroll.  Details are on the logo above and my Jo’s Monday walk page.  Feet up, and here we go!

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Getting one of your 5 ‘e’s or a little exercise?  Many thanks, Anabel!

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The foodies among you will LOVE this one from Junk Boat Travels :

Weekend cooking Union Station

Share Elisa’s delicious flower photography.  What a privilege!  Healthy too!

Back to the garden, and a Monday Walk

You all know Jude’s an advocate for Cornwall.  Have a look and see why:

On the Edge

Boats, reflections, blue sky… you have to know I’m in heaven with this one.  Thanks, Ruth!

Franklin on the Huon River

And if, as here, it’s raining and you have time on your hands, why not join the folks at Monday Escapes?  I met some lovely people there last week.  Happy walking all!  See you next week.

201 comments

  4. Lovely challenging walk, Jo….glad to have had the virtual (but alas not virtuous) opportunity….I will get fat with this lack of exercise:(

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      1. Thank you, Jo! What a lovely thing to say! By the way, I might have done 1/3 of a mile walking to the surgery and back this morning…before it rained! I hope you’ve sorted your WP woes out, I don’t seem to have had a problem…. (Now I’ve tempted Providence, as my mother would have said!)

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  5. I’m rather pleased with myself for keeping up with you, Jo. I did cheat, however, and walked next to the trod instead of on those bumpy stones. 😊 Well worth the climb and keeping my balance on the stepping stones. I missed the cake, though I really don’t need it.

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  6. Looks a lovely walk in a great part of the world. I’m a sucker for stepping stones – those ones look great! Glad to have found your blog too – as a keen walker I’ll hopefully be over to share a stroll or two on your Monday linky. #MondayEscapes

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  7. Hi Jo,
    That low river crossing with the flood gauge remionds me of here. We have ever so many of those.
    Thanks for taking me on that interesting walk,
    Pit

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  10. What a lovely walk, Jo. Was the weather nice or was it at hot? I imagine it was slightly cool, or at least I hope so, with all that uphill climbing. Sometimes I wonder if we speak the same language! You know me, with my American English, wondering about trods and tootles and limber hills! 🙂

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    1. Sorry, chuck! (Are you STILL awake?) I should supply a translation service 🙂 It was pleasantly warm, Cathy. Not hot. I’d have sat on the stepping stones and paddled if it was 🙂

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      1. Jo, I went back to sleep until 8:30 and am now getting a very slow start on my morning! I definitely need a translation service to help with my British friends’ blogs! I loved the stepping stones, and probably would have put my feet in and “paddled,” as you say!

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  11. What an enjoyable walk Jo – I really felt I was walking with you! I loved all the little stories along the way about the characters and history. Moles Cottage sounds delightful and the stepping stones look great fun (on a dry day!). Wonderful photos as always – looks like you picked a good day weather-wise for this walk 🙂

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    1. It’s fabulous, Amy! I knew it was a bit special from Sue’s posts but this is so beautiful. I meant to mention the name ‘Bow’ too- interesting fact 🙂

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  13. Pingback: Monday Walk: Bow River | The World Is a Book...

  16. I love stepping stones, but haven’t seen any like this for so long, and I can’t even remember where! Thank you for sharing this deligthful walk Jo, I enjoyed every step of it and I wish I could live at Mole House 🙂

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    1. That’s my fitness training out of the way for this month 🙂 I almost always include a link so that people can follow the walk if they want, but it’s maybe not always obvious, Sue. Mine is more of a photographic reminisce 🙂 You too!

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  18. Stepping stones are just wonderful. Also very much like that marker showing how high the water used to go…neat shot showing the water there today.

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    1. I have it- thank you so much! Tower Hill makes me smile every time I see it- it reminds me of a tower block of flats in London (Tower Hamlets, I think it’s called) Could anything be more different? 🙂
      The Moors are in bloom with heather right now and a beautiful place to be.

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      1. I haven’t been to the northern hemisphere when the heather is out. I would love to see it and love seeing it through others eyes via blogs.

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