sister@dircon.co.uk Take the Richmond road out of Reeth and follow it through Framlington until the road turns sharply south. At this point you bear left and follow the by-road towards Marske for ½ mile until the road bends sharply left. At this point your way goes almost straight ahead through a gate sign-posted Marrick Priory and along a well worn farm road. Follow this farm road for the 1 ¾ miles to Marrick Priory. At this point leave the farm road in favour of a grass track which leads up to a wicket gate giving access to some woods. Follow the flagged path through the woods and you will come out into a field via another wicket gate. Cross this field and follow the path between a chapel and a church to enter Marrick ¼ mile hence.
At the far end of the village where the road turns north take the small lane on your right to pass a barn and a farmhouse. Then through some gates bear left along the line of a hedge to a stile in the stone wall directly ahead of you. A series of fields now follows and although there is no visible path the direction of your route is obvious from the line of stiles. After crossing a ‘road' the path descends through more fields, via gates and stiles to Ellers Beck. Pass round the house to a footbridge and cross it. Ascend the bank ahead and aim diagonally across the field towards a gate in the far corner and then continue in the same direction to another and the farm road to Hollings. Go through the wire fence by way of a gate on the right and then follow the line of a wall to cross the fence agin to a gate on the right from where you take a coarse diagonally across the field to join the Marske to Reeth road. Turn right along this road and follow it for the ¾ mile into the village of Marske.
At the T-junction opposite the Post Office turn right and follow the road for 300 yards and then on a bend turn right through a gate signposted public footpath; though the path is invisible in most parts. Aim half left from the gate and pass through gaps in three hedges in succession, then a stile in a fence and keeping on in the same direction you will come to a footbridge crossing Clapgate Beck. Cross the footbridge and climb steeply up the banking opposite aiming for the electricity pole between fenced enclosures. After passing this electricity pole you will come to a good farm-track which contours the hill; you need to turn right along this track and follow it until it passes through West Applegarth Farm. At this point the track ends and you need to aim for the solitary barn you can see ahead. Go through the gate adjoining the barn and then cross the stile just ahead, to enter a pasture beyond. Again there is no visible path but your route lies in the direction of the stiles in the walls ahead. These contour the hill and keep above some farm buildings until you come to a barn at High Applegarth. From this point you follow a farm-track to East Applegarth Farm and on into Whitcliff Wood. On emerging from Whitcliff Wood the track rises slightly and passes High Leases before becoming a tarmac road. Follow this road down Westfields and you are in the market town of Richmond.
If you are in need of accommodation, supplies and refreshment; or if you are interested in history, then Richmond is an excellent place to be for it can cater for all the aforementioned. If you need none of these things then leave Richmond immediately; for it must be the coldest place in England both climatically and hospitality wise.
From the south west corner of the market place drop steeply down hill to Richmond Bridge and cross the River Swale. Turn right and follow the river downstream on the south bank past playing fields to a point where the path forks in some woods. Here take the upper branch and proceed to a stile in a fence. After crossing two more stiles you will come out at Priory Villas and the A 6136. Turn right and follow the road for ½ mile until you come to a sharp bend in the road. At this point turn left and follow the private road to the sewage works. After passing a house keep to the right of the works fence to a stile which gives access to a wood. The path leads through the wood alongside the river to a footbridge over a side stream. If you cannot find the bridge don't be too surprised for the last time I was there it was in a terrible state of decay and about ready to disintegrate. If you do find it be careful; it is probably a whole lot safer to ford the stream than to cross the bridge; wet socks being easier repaired than broken bones. Return to the riverside path and follow it until a cliff bars further progress. Bear right and follow the path up through the trees to the cliff top and a stile in the fence. At this point the path disappears but ahead of you is Hagg Farm and this is what you are aiming towards. Pass round the farm buildings and you will come to a farm track. Follow the track for the length of the first field only before turning right along the public right of way. Again the path is almost invisible but the route you need to take is made obvious by a line of stiles across the fields; and by following this line you will eventually come out into the village of Colburn The village is entered by following the path along the stream until you come to a stile giving access to a lane. Follow the lane to its end and cross the green to the village street and the Hildyard Arms. A much superior hostelry to any found in Richmond. If you have time and it is open pay it a visit, I would.
Go through the village to the end of the street. From here the path crosses private land for a short time so be especially careful about not causing any damage or nuisance. At the farm at the end of the street go to the right of the farm and through the farmyard and then turn left through an iron gate. You now join a farm track and follow it through two fields; then in the third field leave it to bear left to the corner where a bridleway is joined. Follow the bridleway through trees and across a stile and a little further on you will come to an access road to St. Giles Farm. You follow this road for just 100 yards before turning left and following a fence through trees alongside the river. After crossing two fields the path joins a fenced lane which you follow to Thornbrough Farm.
Ahead of you now is one of the most depressing sights on the whole walk; the A.1 and its endless stream of traffic. Head down the hill to the bridge where the A 1 crosses the river and pass under the bridge (prepare to be deafened) and then under another bridge; this one carrying a disused railway line; to come to a busy road junction at Catterick Bridge. The most noticeable feature of Catterick Bridge is the racecourse and on race-days this road junction is extremely busy.
Turn left and leave the village by way of the bridge over the Swale. Immediately over the bridge turn right and cross the stile to join the footpath and follow it for 1 mile until you come to a gravel works blocking your way. Enter these works and turn immediately left to join a road (B.6271). Turn right and follow this road until you come to a fenced lane on your left signposted ‘Tilcon'. Follow this lane for about ¼ mile and then turn left along another fenced lane towards Bolton-on-Swale whose church steeple can be seen straight ahead from the lane junction. This church being your immediate objective.
Follow the lane towards the church and after about ½ mile you will come to the village of Bolton-on-Swale. On arrival at Bolton-on-Swale cross the B.6271 and head for the church and turn down the side road. Pass the house and immediately afterwards cross the stile at the side of the gate. The footpath now follows the side of Bolton beck until it reaches the access road to Laylands Farm. Turn left along this road and then turn right through the next gate to skirt round the edge of the field to reach the road at Ellerton Hill.
Now starts the worst stretch of the whole walk; in fact is the worst section of walking on any walk that I know. From Ellerton Hill you now have 8 miles of continuous road walking without even a short stroll across a field. If you can arrange a lift from someone then I recommend that you do so. Unfortunately this area of Yorkshire is poorly served by public transport and there is no possibility of catching a bus.
On reaching the road at Ellerton Hill turn left and begin the long dreary trudge. After 5 ¼ miles you will eventually come to the village of Danby Wiske. Danby Wiske is a pleasant little village at the best of times but after all the road-work it seems even more inviting than normal. At the side of the village green their is a the welcoming sight of the inn; a place that is definately worth a visit. The beer on my last visit was of an exceedingly high quality.
There is still more road-work to go but don't worry the worst of it is over and if you have been fortunate enough to have had a pint or two the remaining 2 ½ miles will seem to fly by. Follow the road for another 2 miles until you come to the A.167 Darlington to Northallerton road and then turn left. After about 600 yards, after passing through Oaktree Hill you will come to a grassy lane on your right. Take this. This grassy lane soon becomes another road but shortly after it turns left towards Deighton you turn right along a farm access road to Moor House Farm. From here you follow a footpath across fields past Brompton Moor Farm to Northfield House Farm. Now go down the access road and cross the cattle grid to join the A.684 and turn right. After a short distance turn left along another farm access road, this time leading to Wray House Farm. Now follow the path across stiles, a railway line and Ing beck to pass Harlsey Grove Farm to emerge into Low Moor Lane. Follow this lane down to its junction with the West Rounton to East Harlsey road. Diagonally opposite is a drive/access road to Sydal Lodge. Go along this drive and past the farm. Pass through the gates directly ahead and follow the path down to and across the footbridge over the River Wiske (River being a rather grand title for the sluggish little brook that normally runs beneath the bridge). From the bridge follow the path up to the ruins of Brecken Hill Farm and join the farm track that zig-zags between fields before bringing you out at the side of the A.19.
At this point be very careful. After the country roads you have recently had to navigate this road is extremely busy and crossing it can be hazardous. It would be a shame to have walked all this way just to be run over within a couple of days of Robin Hoods Bay.
After crossing the busy A.19 follow the road in front of you into the village of Ingleby Arncliffe. Follow the road a little further and it brings you to the A.172 and Ingleby Cross. Or more relevant to the majority of walkers it brings you to the Blue Bell Inn at Ingleby Cross. Enjoy your pint you've earned it. Get a good nights rest for tomorrow the walking proper starts again.
Details of Accommodation, along the Coast to Coast can be found by following this link to http://www.coast2coast.co.uk