Yorkshire Walks

Our parking spot on Wood Gate Way in Brompton just off the A170

Setting off along Wood Gate Way

Our parking spot was about 25m north of the A170 at map ref. SE 946 823. We set off at about 8.00am in bright spring sunshine, heading northwards away from the A170 along Wood Gate Way. We walked along the road climbing gently for about 450m to a right hand bend in the road. At the bend in the road we kept straight on following a by-way between the fields.

This morning the weather forecast predicted widespread heavy rain and thunder storms for this afternoon crossing the country from the south west. My friend, Jim, and I made an early start to do our walk before the rain arrived. We drove to Brompton-by-Sawdon on A170 Pickering to Scarborough road. We parked in a little lay-by on Wood Gate Way.

Following Wood Gate Way out of Brompton

Leaving the road to follow the by-way continuation of Wood Gate Way

Passing a pair of brick semi-detached houses

Continuing along Wood Gate Way

Passing the conifers that screen the Sawdon Pines Golf Course

These conifers turned out to be screening the Sawdon Pines Golf Course on the right of the by-way. We walked past the golf course and past the next field on our right. At the end of this field we turned right at a public footpath sign overgrown in the hedge.

The by-way is the continuation of Wood Gate Way. After about 200m we passed a pair of semi-detached brick built houses on the right of the by-way. About 1km further along the by-way from these houses we came to a tall hedge of ornamental conifers.

The grass verge was dotted with lovely cowslips

Tall hedge of ornamental conifers ahead

Nearing our right turn off the Wood Gate Way

Turning off the Wood Gate Way on to a public footpath along the field edge. There is a footpath sign at the hedge

Path across the field from Wood Gate Way

The end of the field path at Kirk Gate on the edge of Sawdon

We followed the road round a right hand bend into the village. About 150m from the right hand bend the road made a sharp left hand turn and here we turned right off the road on to a track called Sawdon Balk that is marked on the OS explorer map as a public by-way.

The public footpath was along a wide grassy track along the edge of the field. We continued along this path for about 500m to the road, called Kirk Gate, at the edge of Sawdon village. At the road we turned left towards the village of Sawdon.

The field path from Wood Gate Way to Kirk Gate at Sawdon

Walking along Kirk Gate into Sawdon

About to turn right off the road onto the rack called Sawdon Balk

The start of the Sawdon Balk track

Sharp left hand bend in the track

The hare did not seem to notice us until it was only about 20m away. We and the hare stopped and just looked at each other for a few seconds before the hare turned and bounded away across the field. We continued on our way ignoring the bridleway and following the Sawdon Balk track straight ahead.

We walked along the Sawdon Balk track for about 600m to a sharp left hand bend, then about 50m round the bend to a sharp right hand bend. About 50m beyond this bend there was a public bridleway off to the left of the track. As we approached the bridleway turning a large hare came towards us along the track.

The long straight Sawdon balk track . . .

. . . then a sharp right hand bend in the track

Bridleway going off the track to the left where we kept straight on and met a large hare

Following the track towards Ruston

. . . then a sharp left hand bend in the track

Bluebells by the track

It was a very pleasant track between the fields and from the bend we followed it for about 1km down to Ruston village.

About 450m past the bridleway turn we came to another sharp right hand bend in the track and after 100m a sharp left hand bend.

Sharp right hand bend in the track . . .

Track dropping down towards Ruston

Heading down into Ruston

Following West Gate into the middle of Ruston

Following West Gate into the middle of Ruston

Heading out of Ruston to the A170

The inscription says that in 1923 a bee keeper planted 7 trees
at the roadside providing spring food for bees

At this junction we turned right and walked along the road out to the A170 Pickering to Scarborough road. We walked along the footpath at the side of the A170 for about 100m and then crossed the busy A170 to Hudgin Lane.

Ruston is a pretty village with a mixture of cottages and fields as we walked along West Gate down to a junction of four roads and a couple of access tracks next to a bridge over the beck in the middle of the village.

Bridge over the beck at the road junction in Ruston

Joining the path alongside the A170

Walking along the A170 for about 100m

Crossing the A170 to Hudgin Lane

Following Hudgin Lane for about 850m

Crossing the footbridge very carefully

The footbridge consisted of a plank with a low, rather wonky hand rail on one side. We crossed the footbridge into the field and followed the footpath along the edge of the field with the hedge on our left.

Hudgin Lane was just the opposite of the A170. It was a quiet and pleasant walk for about 850m from the A170 to a public footpath sign on the right hand side of the lane next to a footbridge across a Ruston Beck.

Turning right off Hudgin Lane to a footbridge to the fields

Following the footpath with the hedge on our right

Looking left across the fields to the edge of the Yorkshire Wolds

Path out of the field corner . . .

Gate from the field path on to Acres Lane

Continuing along Acres Lane towards Brompton

We came to a gate leading on to Acres Lane from the field path. We followed Acres Lane to the road called Ings Lane at the edge of Brompton.

At the corner of the field the path cut through the hedge into the next field now with the hedge on our left and we continued along the edge of the fields.

. . . following the path with the hedge now on our left

Following Acres Lane towards Brompton

Following Acres Lane into Brompton

About to turn right from Acres Lane on to Ings Lane in Brompton

Following Ings Lane through Brompton

Walking along Hungate from the road junction

Following Hungate up to the A170

At the A170 we crossed the road and walked along the A170 for about 100m to Wood Gate Way on our left. We turned left into Wood Gate Way back to our parking spot and the end of our walk. The weather had remained fine and we had completed the 8km walk in about two and a half hours.

We walked along Ings Lane into the village to a road junction where there was a bridge over Brompton Beck on our left. At this junction we turned right away from the bridge to walk along Hungate up the hill to the A170, called High Street in the village.

Bridge over Brompton Beck

Following Hungate up to the A170

Nearing our turning off the A170 to Wood Gate Way

Back at our parking spot off Wood Gate Way at the end of our walk