Yorkshire Walks

Miniature bridge and village hall at Sinnington

The small gate at SE 738864 into the woods

The well-signed track known as "The Stripe" led us through a farm gate to a 90° left turn corresponding to a similar bend in the river. Here the track was carpeted with acorns and at SE 738864 a small gate with the notice "Path to Appleton" on the right of the track accessed a narrow route through woodland initially some 20 metres above the river on our right. Emerging from the woodland through a farm gate the bridleway continued across a field.

With its weather forecast to be the best of the week, today was not to be missed. We chose a gentle circuit around these three delightful villages. We parked at the East side of the River Seven on Sinnington village green by a miniature nonfunctional packhorse bridge. We began our walk by crossing the old stone bridge which spans the river and then turning sharp right to proceed North along its West bank. A bridleway runs from Sinnington to Appleton.

A carpet of acorns

Emerging from the woodland heading for Appleton

A small gate to a farm track to Appleton-le-Moors

Village Hall at Appleton-le-Moors

Continuing up Headlands Road in the village for some 220 metres we turned right at a "Public Footpath" sign, obscured by foliage.

Some 130 metres ahead we reached a small gate and turned left on to a farm track which, after 3 farm gates and 800 metres, reached Appleton-le-Moors.

The farm track to Appleton-le-Moors

Public footpath sign obscured by foliage

The path leaving Appleton-le-Moors

Comma butterfly

Red Admirals were especially active in the sunlight along with some Commas and the occasional Small Tortoiseshell. After some 0.6 km we entered woodland at SE 743881 where a winding path took us down to turn right and join the route of the Tabular Hills Walk on a narrow metalled road.

In 100 metres the path reached a track where we turned left for only 30 metres before crossing a stile on our right to resume our previous direction. As we walked through the newly-harvested field with a hedge on our left.

Red Admiral

Entering woodland at SE 743881

Leaving the farm access road to cross the River Seven

Over the footbridge we turned left on to the bridleway Mill Bank Low Lane which we would follow for a mile through 3 gates to the Rosedale Abbey to Wrelton road.

Where, some 250 metres further on, this road bent sharply right into a farm we took to a path on the left and crossed the River Seven using a substantial footbridge.

Footbridge over the River Seven

Memorial bench on the summit of the motte at Cropton

A path around the back of the church led us to the site of an 11th century motte and bailey castle. On the summit of the mound was a fine memorial bench; an ideal spot to look out over the countryside whilst having lunch.

Turning right on to a narrow footpath we climbed quite steeply alongside the road for 250 metres where the Tabular Hills Walk leaves the road at a right bend to use a track on the left which leads to the Church of St Gregory in Cropton.

Remains of the Motte & Bailey castle at Cropton

Rejoining the Wrelton road as we left Cropton

Cropton home brew - micro brewery at the New Inn

Some 150 metres along the road, immediately beyond the brewery, the Bull Ing Lane bridleway on the right set us on course for Sinnington.

Retracing the path to the church we bore right to walk through Cropton village and at SE 756890 turned right to rejoin the Wrelton road by a memorial seat and one of the disused village pumps.

Cropton village hall

Bull Ing Lane leaving Cropton

Taking the central path at SE 753881 towards Sinnington

In 90 metres a signpost offered a choice of routes to Sinnington: to the left a bridleway via Church Lane or a footpath straight ahead; we chose the footpath and then forked left after a further 40 metres before dropping down to Dark Lane where we turned left into the village to complete the walk - Ray Brown.

After 800 metres, at SE 753881 the central path of three led via a couple of gates to Wiley Flat Lane which ran for more than a kilometre along the edge of farmland on our left and a steep, deep wooded ravine on our right. On emerging from the wood we stayed along the contour until the bridleway turned right at SE 746866.

Wiley Flat Lane heading for Sinnington