The head of Bilsdale from the climb up to Cock Howe

Today my usual walking companion, Jim, was on baby-sitting duty with his little grand daughter. The weather was just perfect for a walk - bright, sunny, a cool breeze - so I decided to have a walk on my own. I drove up to Chop Gate in Bilsdale and parked at the village hall, map ref. SE 558993. I set off from the car park heading roughly south west straight up the hill to Cock Howe, map ref. SE 542983, at a height of 400m. The views of Bilsdale on the way up are just stunning. I really like this place!

Left: Looking over Chop Gate to Hasty Bank

Looking north from Cock Howe

Cringle Moor from Barker's Ridge

Once at the top I followed the track northwards along the ridge for about 3km to Barker's Crags at map ref. NZ 524002. Approaching Barker's Crags there is a lovely view down Scugdale to the left and over to the Yokshire dales. I continued on through the crags and over to Brian's Pond at map ref. NZ 522007. From there I climbed up to the gliding club airfield and joined the gliding club access track at map ref. NZ 521022. I walked down the track to the road where the Cleveland Way crosses and went into Lord Stone's Cafe for some lunch at map ref. NZ 524030.

Right: Roseberry Topping in the distance from Barker's Ridge

Looking down Scugdale

Brian's Pond

Roseberry Topping and Teesside from the gliding club access road

The Cleveland Way near Lord Stone's Cafe

Lord Stone's Cafe

After lunch I walked along the road for about 150m and took the path on the right down a farm track at map ref. NZ 525029. I followed the path past Thwaites House and on to Staindale farm.

Guinea fowl at Lord Stone's cafe

The track to Thwiates House

Black buds on the ash tree, one of the last to come into leaf well into May

Pond near Thwaites House

Wild geese grazing by the path

The path goes through the farm yard and about 200m farther on it drops down to cross the stream and then follows the watercourse down the valley for over a kilometre to Raisedale Mill at map ref. NZ 538005.

Crossing a side valley to Staindale beck

Frogspawn in a puddle by the path

Tadpoles starting to develop in the puddle

Stream rushing down to join Raisdale beck

Hairy caterpillar on the track

Looking up to Barker's ridge from Raisedale

At the mill, now a series of holiday cottages, I followed the track between the houses and took the path across the fields to Crossletts farm (now a rather well to do residence). From here I walked up the farm road, a pair of concrete strips, to the road.

An old hay rake

Rabbit getting ready to run for it!

I crossed the road and turned on to the track on my right at map ref. NZ 543004. I followed the track to Westcote farm and continued on the path round the hillside , then down on to the road at map ref. SE 550999.

Ewes and their spring lambs

Cellandines opening in the field by the village hall

Ewes in the field nearest to the farm waiting to lamb

I walked along the road for a few hundred metres to map ref. SE 555995 and turned right off the road to follow the path across the fields back to the village hall. The whole route had been about 14.5km and had taken me almost 5 hours, including nearly an hour's stop at Lord Stone's Cafe for lunch.

Chop Gate village hall