Fog, a Hollow Way and a Reservoir That Never Was
The watershed between the River Esk and River Rye tributaries was today more than a geographical line. It was a weather frontier. While Castleton and Westerdale basked in spring sunshine a mile or two away to the north, Farndale sulked under a damp mist so thick you could almost wring it out ...
http://www.fhithich.uk/2026/03/20/fog-a-hollow-way-and-a-reservoir-that-never-was/
The Track Through Hall Wood
Hall Wood in Farndale hides a solid, well-made track, the sort that suggests purpose and history. It is said to have led to a sawpit. If so, it kept its secret well today. I found the path, but not the pit. The wood was less forthcoming than the National Trust’s heritage records.
Timber once mattered in the dales in a way it no longer d ...
http://www.fhithich.uk/2026/02/12/the-track-through-hall-wood/
The Lion Inn: Travellers’ Refuge on Blakey Ridge
Perched high on Blakey Ridge, between Rosedale and Farndale, stands the Lion Inn, proud of its claim as the highest inn on the North York Moors. It is a welcome halt for weary Coast-to-Coast walkers, who by midday are replaced by visitors seeking lunch rather than lodgings. Few, one sus ...
http://www.fhithich.uk/2025/08/25/the-lion-inn-travellers-refuge-on-blakey-ridge/
#BlakeyRidge #Farndale #NorthYorkMoors #CoastToCoast #history
Hall Wood, Farndale
A pleasant little wander around Farndale on another bitterly cold morning. The route, regrettably, was largely tarmac, because the North York Moors, in their wisdom, provides very few Public Rights of Way in the dale bottom away from the ever popular daffodil trail. By chance, we came across Hall Wood, a rather unpretentious National Trust property lurking along the dead-end road on th ...
Hemmell Stones — Raising the Harvest
Hemmell stones served to raise barns, granaries, hayricks, and beehives off the ground, protecting them from damp and vermin. Usually comprising a separate head and base, these stones gave them a distinctive mushroom-like appearance. In other parts of the country, they are more commonly known as 'staddle' or 'steddle' stones, with variations in design depending on the region.
The t ...
A Cloud over Rudland Rigg and the Insects’ Plight
An uncommon veil of cloud swathes Rudland Rigg, seen here across the expanse of Farndale. In the foreground, a vivid member of the thistle family teems with insects eagerly gathering its nectar. It is a picture of health, yet beneath this tranquil surface, a serious calamity is unfolding. Even without the trained eye of an entomologist, one can detect a decline ...
Breckon Bank Quarry, Farndale
Farndale, a hidden gem within the North York Moors, is famous for its wild daffodils that draw visitors in droves during spring. I decided to explore the dale's western side, a maze of landslips, secret ponds, and abandoned quarries that took me quite by surprise.
A few less-frequented footpaths wind up the bracken-covered slopes from the valley's farms. These paths aren't always s ...
Mick Garratt
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Ian Mayer DL
