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Contents :: WQLDS WAY :: Day 4             INTRODUCTION     DAY 1     DAY 2     DAY 3     DAY 4         THE WOLDS WAY ENDS AT FILEY     NATIONAL TRAIL GUIDES UK           Day 4 :: In the Rain:: Sherburne to Filey :: 17 miles           Today was overcast and it rained heavily, and the rain continued for most of the day, with a delicate hissing sound, thoroughly soaking me through my waterproofs. I started my run, on my own again, from the footpath just south of Sherburne and ran up the steep road, passing a gymkhana as I entered the fields to my left by High Mill Farm. I went left where the road forks and found a stile between the hedgerow on my left taking me across fields and to the right of a high hedgerow. My path was narrow as it followed another hedgerow on my left, lying between long tufts of grass, which were sodden, and within a minute of entering the field my feet were thoroughly soaked. All along the path, for the entire length of the field (and many other fields today) there were snails and it was extremely difficult running so as to avoid them. It was pouring with rain and the wetness had obviously attracted them. It felt refreshing to run in the rain today, however, following the last few days of running in hot weather. After a while I found myself facing woodland and turned right and uphill to run along the side of the wood, before being directed by a Wolds Way sign to cross a stile into it. I knew I would not be running in the woodland for long, and I was not disappointed. I had welcomed a run through the woods but the path, unfortunately, took a less desirable route around field edges instead. I soon emerged and ran along a field side hedge downhill to the end of the field where the Bond Hills Plantation stretches between the A64 and the edge of the field.     Snail infested path by High Hill Farm   Wolds Way near Dawnay Lodge           I now turned right and after a very short while was shocked and amazed at startling a young red deer which bolted from cover just in front of me. I had not known there were deer in the area. The experience left me momentarily bewildered, but very pleased. The track was easy and I made good time. It comprised a sandy, chalky mix and was broad and flat. I soon approached Manor Farm, entered upon a small minor road, came immediately upon Downay Lodge and entered a field opposite. The grassy field followed the hedge line and the running was easy. I was more than satisfied with my speed.               Cottages at Ganton   Barn at Anton where Wolds Way leaves road           I eventually emerged onto a minor road. Turning left on it I ran downhill towards the village of Ganton, turning into the first road on my right. This was lined with a beautiful row of white cottages, each with red tiled roofs and a display of blooming garden flowers. At the end of this short road the path continued directly ahead through some fields at the side of a white barn and a thick cluster of trees. The path was not readily discernible and was poorly signed. Not only was the path awkward to find but it lay at the edge of a field of crops that grew close to the edge of the field, so that the path could not be traveled without tramping on the crops. Because of the awkwardness of the path I was convinced for some considerable time that I was not actually following the path, until at length I came upon another Wolds Way sign. It took a considerable time to travel this field and I was compelled to walk, it being too dangerous to run between the tiny ruts sandwiching the crops, and there not being enough space between the crops and the hedgerow. Eventually the path was signed to my right and uphill, where I continued for a great distance – far greater than that indicated in my guide book, so much so that I was sure, once again, that I had erred. Eventually, however, I met another sign to confirm the correctness of my route and to steer me left, yet again. I might add that I continued to experience difficulty in running along all of these field edges due to the lack of a proper footpath and the land owner's neglect in allowing his crops to grow so close to the hedgerow, without regard for the path. After a number of ups and lefts I eventually came to a right turn along a hedge, where I could see Grange Farm in the near distance on the other side of the hedge. Between the farm and myself there was a large field that appeared to have undergone some toxic treatment to kill everything growing upon it. I shortly crossed a stile to this field and ran along a broad path to the B1249 and then through Grange Farm. Here I was expecting to see, and did see, road signs indicating that the road I was about to travel upon was a private road leading to RAF Staxton Wold. I took the road, saluting a friendly farmer as I passed him, and ran for about a mile until the road turned to run alongside the RAF accommodation and other buildings. I ran past this establishment and proceeded downhill, almost missing an old wooden sign that was nearly hidden by the undergrowth of the hedgerow and which indicated an important left turn up a very steep hill. Climbing the hill, and the stile at the top of it I was met by a swirling band of mist as it rolled over Staxton Wold. The mist was not severe and did not impede my progress, although I worried lest it should. I had a view of Cotton Dale, although this was somewhat occluded due to the mist. The going was difficult for the next mile, as I proceeded along the field side hedgerows, sided on my right by encroaching crops of wheat and corn.               Stile at foot of Cotton Dale   Cotton Wold           Running became easier when I reached a small dale on Flixton Wold which I easily ran down and not so easily ran up. I crossed down and up Lang Dale. This was an attractive small dale, filled, to my left, with tall white cow parsley blooms and was spectacular to behold even in this weather. At the top of the dale I came to a minor road, which I turned right upon and after a short run I turned left along another path, which was strewn with warnings not to leave the path and “beware of the bull” signs. This landowner did not appreciate trespassers!               Staxton Wold   Lang Dale           After crossing a stile I was directed to the edge of a field running at the top of Raven Dale. I could hardly glimpse the dale from the footpath and wondered if that was fair, bearing in mind the new Freedom to Roam Bill, for which I eagerly anticipated Royal Assent. I now approached Camp Dale and Folkton Wold. I passed around the top of Camp Dale and along the edge of Folkton Wold and eventually proceeded steeply downhill to The Camp, which was inhabited by a large herd of cows and bullocks, most of which seemed to be standing in my path. The bullocks and calves were young and I was aware that cows can become aggressive where they think their calves may be in danger. I pressed ahead, walking rather than running, along the field side and to the stile at the bottom and onto a horse jumping field.               Small dale running into Lang Dale   Camp Dale           I then crossed a stile into Stocking Dale. I had not expected such an awesome and splendid view as this. The dale was alive with buttercups, daisies and other meadow flowers, which festooned the dale floor in such a thick carpet as to give the appearance of having been painted onto a canvass. This was so along its entire length as far as I could see. The dale was broad, long and flat and the sides rising up from it rose gently and not very high, and were covered in low growing shrubbery, mostly hawthorn. I ran along this meadow, beneath the woodland to my right until emerging from the woods and passing another small dale between Folkton Wold and Deedless Hill. I then ran along a rut in a track alongside a field of yellow flowering rape seed which hung over the path so that as I ran I brushed against the yellow petals. The rain made them stick to my clothing so that my entire right side was dappled yellow. I eventually reached a bend which took me to my right with a narrow plantation of trees parallel to me on my left, whilst the field of rape continued on my right.               Stocking Dale   Head of Stocking Dale           As I approached Stockingdale Farm signs of habitation appeared. The hedgerow to my right was lined with old rusted and wrecked cars that had been partly grown over. It looked ugly. I encountered and crossed a minor road and ran through fields downhill for some considerable distance until reaching Muston. I had no desire to run along main roads or through towns and as this was now the route the Wolds Way followed I had arranged to meet Tanya here to be driven to the Coble Landing at Filey to complete the route along North Cliff to the end of the Wolds Way at a stile which also marks the beginning of the Cleveland Way.               Filey and Filey Brigg   Filey         Day 3       Author - Roy McKee Copyright © Roy McKee 2006