Route: Silpho and Hackness
Area: North Yorkshire
Date of walk: 6th May 2021
Walkers: Andrew and Gilly
Distance: 6.2 miles
Ascent: 900 feet
Weather: A mixed day of cloud and sunny intervals, with a few sleet and hail showers
It’s been six years since we last followed this route, but we have fond memories of it and decided to retrace our steps. As on previous occasions we started from Derwent View Hackness, but anyone not staying at the cottage could start just as conveniently from the nearby village hall car park
After walking out of the village and passing by Mill Farm we left the road to climb up to the edge of Walker Flat Wood. The path enters into the wood and hugs the edge of it until emerging above Hackness Hall and St Peter’s Church. The view from here, looking into Low Dale beyond the hall and the church, is one of my favourites
We then descended to the valley road and climbed up through Thirlsey Wood. Primrose, bluebell, wild garlic and wood anemone lined the path as we made our way up to the top of the hill. We emerged onto fields which took us past Thirlsey. Just before Thirlsey Cottage we joined an unsigned track which headed east towards Binkleys Farm. The weather closed in during this section, and there were several showers of sleet and hail which accompanied us intermittently for the rest of the walk
We continued across the tabular hilltop to Binkleys Farm, where we joined to lane leading to to half way point of the walk, Silpho. It’s possible to return to Hackness from here down the hill now known as the ‘Cote de Silpho’, so named as it’s part of the Tour de Yorkshire international cycle race. We declined this short cut and followed a path to Haggland Wood, descending into the lovely valley of Low Dales. Most of the return along Low Dales is along the valley lane, but this isn’t an issue. The lane is a dead end and only serves 2 or 3 houses, so there’s little or no traffic
The lane took us back into Hackness and when we arrived at the village road we turned right. After a short distance we turned off to follow a track back to the start. Anyone not staying at Derwent View would probably find it more convenient to stay on the road and walk back to the nearby village hall
For other walks here, visit my Find Walks page and enter the name in the ‘Search site’ box
Click on the icon below for the route map (subscribers to OS Maps can view detailed maps of the route, visualise it in aerial 3D, and download the GPX file. Non-subscribers will see a base map)
Scroll down – or click on any photo to enlarge it and you can then view as a slideshow
Garden birds in our crab apple tree the day before the walk (robin, goldfinch, blue tit and bullfinch)
The start of the walk from Derwent View cottage Hackness. As mentioned in the introduction, anyone not staying at the cottage can start from the nearby village hall
Leaving Hackness
Having passed by Mill Farm we join a public footpath and climb up a grassy bank, with good views back to Hackness
We follow a path below Walker Flat Wood
Looking back over Mill Farm to the start of the walk
Coomb Hill and Mount Misery
We enter Walker Flat Wood here and follow a path at its edge
Having emerged from the wood, we enjoy some wonderful views - this is looking back along the valley
St Peter's Church Hackness
St Peter's Church, Hackness Hall and Low Dales - we'll be returning along Low Dales at the end of the walk
St Peter's Church again
More of that view over Hackness Hall as we follow the path below the wood...
We cross this stile and descend to the valley road
We cross the road and pass through this rather pointless gate
Looking back along the road to Hackness Hall
We ford Crossdales Beck - if the beck is in spate, there's an alternative crossing a little further along the road
Thirlsey Bottoms
We enter into Thirlsey Wood and follow the path uphill
Wild garlic in Thirsey Wood, not quite in flower yet
Bluebell, primrose, cowslip and forget me not lining the way
Looking back to Thirlsey Wood as we walk across the fields to Thirlsey
We pass by the farm at Thirlsey, and immediately before Thirlsey Cottage we leave the track and head west towards Silpho
The path takes us through several fields - at this point a shower of hail and sleet overtook us
Looking back to a line of trees which we walked past
We arrive in the small settlement of Silpho, the half way point of the walk, and turn right along the road
Stone cottage in Silpho
We reach and old phone box and a square tower, which is an early 19th century water tower built to provide a head of water to the locals. It went out of use in the 1970s
After turning left at the water tower, we follow this track towards Haggland Wood
We descend through the wood
Low Dales below
We cross Lowdales Beck via two footbridges next to fords in the lane...
Start of the return to Hackness via Low Dales, initially through this field...
We then join the lane along the valley - Low Dales is a dead end, so there's little or no traffic
Views back along the valley, with some good light after another passing hail shower...
Approaching Hackness
St Peter's Church through the trees as we arrive back in Hackness
Anyone starting the walk from the village hall will find it quicker to keep to the road. We turned up the track on the right, which brings us to the far end of the village
Back to Derwent View, and the end of an enjoyable walk
