A walk up the hillside from Noelles Cottages

We are looking at the walks that you can make straight from the door of the cottage and this one is an extension of Millie's usual excursion. It starts from the top of the garden where you turn left along High Back Side above the Church. At the tiny cross roads you turn right and start up the seemingly endless slope heading north. You pass a large badger sett on the left and soon reach the bench dedicated to a local man who loved this walk

.

You may sit and regain energy and puff and consider the regular field patterns that date back to the Enclosure Acts of 1750 - 1800 that have done much to shape our countryside.

With imagination you can picture Lake Pickering that started at the base of the slope and only finally became a memory when the Dutch were brought over to drain the land. Below Riseborough there are remains of a village on stilts alongside the narrow river that runs south to the River Rye.

Wherever you look there seems to be a row of trees on the horizon. At this time of year they reveal their structure well and can make strong forms in the landscape. Millie likes to make the foreground interest, it's amusing to see how very odd a dog looks when on the move.

As the narrow road climbs the hill you pass a small hotel/restaurant now called Tantara Lodge and further to a crumbling farm undergoing extensive restoration. It's always enjoyable to see good looking horses out for some exercise.

The tarmac finishes and the mud road continues north until opening out into a large field where the sheep were curious but nervous. Lovely light and enthusiastic subjects.

A brief walk to the right along the Cropton to Newton road leads to the track unto the Roman Camps. The story is that the Roman soldiers marched up from Malton to practice building the formulaic camps with earth ramparts and standard layout. Whatever the real origin for the ramparts it was certainly and beautiful setting they chose with views across Elleron Lake and Lodge to the hills beyond. It is easy to be lulled into the idea that this area is only slightly tilted fields and woods. You reach the edge of the Roman Camp, or indeed beyond the pub at Levisham or at the Hole of Horcum and the world drops away below your feet. The woods around the Roman Camps were looking very attractive in the strong low light, birch trees, bracken and a light dusting of snow.

Searching out interesting photos and chatting to neighbours and friends extended the walk to 3 hours but I am sure it could be done in much less. Runners like the gradual uphill and the good 'going' for most of the way. There is little traffic on any of the roads and plenty to look at. As we left the woods we came across a straddler from the distant hunt we had heard tooting in the distance. You couldn't help feeling a little sorry for him as he had lost all his chums!

After a few hundred yards we turned right at the crossroads towards Pickering and passed a good looking farm with a typical arched cart shed.

At times the sun broke through backlighting moss and beech leaves to good effect.

The sky was increasingly grey and rain threatened so we shortened our walk by nipping through Broats Farm

and rejoining the road to Middleton at Tantara Lodge. The alternative is to drop down into Pickering and make a choice of the many tea shops and cafes we have on offer. In a few weeks we will have our own teashop, next door at the Post Office in Middleton, a new meeting place for the village we hope.