January in Wykeham Forest.

Another unusual month - mild and damp. Occasional frosts, and some lovely clear, bright days, wonderful for walking.
 

Wykeham Forest - Mist in Elven Wood (SE943867)

All my walking has been in and about Wykeham Forest since our wade in Rosedale at the beginning of the month, due to work and other stuff going on at weekends.
 

Wykeham Forest - By Harlands Nursery (SE933875)

Firstly Freddie had to be transported, along with all his worldly goods, back to University. He was filled with enthusiasm about his upcoming exams.
 

Wykeham Forest - Hal and Rafe on Infested Path (SE938883)


Another weekend was taken up by a St. John's Activity First Aid course. The course was facilitated by a member of the Scarborough and Ryedale Mountain Rescue Team, partly in the North York Moors National Park HQ in Helmsley and partly on the moors near Sutton Bank. I'm not sure what the hill walkers around and about us thought about 12 mad First Aiders running about in nitrile gloves, bandages fake wounds and plastic sick. A great fun weekend, with like minded people, enhanced skills and a qualificaiton to boot. Thanks Ian!!


Wykeham Forest - birch, beech and moss (SE933874)


Here are a few photo's taken in Wykeham Forest over recent weeks. Looking forward to spring now.... Hope this isn't premature......


Wykeham Forest - Birch in Elven Wood (SE943867)

Wykeham Forest - Rise Dikes (SE943868)

 

Wykeham Forest - Hal and Rafe in Harlands Nursery (SE932874)

Wykeham Forest
After the illegal off-roaders have been through!!
Rafe and Hal - Charcoal Burners Track (SE939877)

Wykeham Forest - The very top of Sawdon Dale (SE938868)

Three Tremblers Tumuli.

Rafe and Hal,
beside the largest and most southerly of the Three Temblers Tumuli,
Wykeham Forest - 01/01/2012

Whilst doing some research into the amcient remains in Wykeham Forest, I came across this article by Brian Beadle, on the Malton Gazette and Herald website :

HISTORY abounds on this ride to find some prehistoric round barrows called the three tremblers hidden away in Wykeham Forest.

Around 1,000BC, which is referred to as the urn period, the urn people made a serious attempt to live on the moors and dales leaving us evidence of their existence with finds of urns and tools.

The three tremblers are barrows where the urn people buried their cremated dead. When the barrows were excavated, there was an urn with a deep neck, a bronze dagger and a flint knife in one trembler and a large urn and a jet pendant in another.

There is also evidence of a stone circle at the most northerly of the three tremblers, but nothing was found there.

Not far away another stone circle was discovered on the edge of the escarpment overlooking Troutsdale where a broken urn filled with burnt bones was found as well as other interesting pots.

As I researched this article, I came upon an interesting fact about stone circles. There was usually a mother-goddess associated with stone circle worship who was nicknamed the Old Wife, and the pathways leading to the circle are today known as Old Wife’s Trod, or Old Wife’s Way. Perhaps the Old Wife’s Way leading to Newgate Foot is associated with the standing stones in the area around Blakey Topping?

Why are the barrows in Wykeham Forest called the three tremblers? No one knows for sure, but some think it could be to do with the constellations in the night sky. The tremblers representing the handle of the plough.

The rest of the article - a cycle route in the area - can be found at the following link:

http://www.gazetteherald.co.uk/leisure/cyclerides/4494210.Brompton__Wykeham_and_Sawdon_cycle_ride/

Scots Pine, guarding the Three Tremblers Tumuli,
Wykeham Forest - 08/01/2012

Rosedale.

Only time for a short walk in Rosedale, but the views were great, on a cool, breezy day with sun and showers. 

Bell Top from Rosedale Abbey

We set off from Rosedale Abbey village car park, walked through the village (disappointed to see that both the tea rooms were closed) and north along the River Seven, 

River Seven, Rosedale - SE716966

 

Hill Plantation, Rosedale, from SE717966

 cut across the dale and followed Northdale Beck back to the village. 

Bell Top, Rosedale, from SE717966

Looking south along Rosedale from SE722969

Descent onto Northdale, SE723972

 

Northdale, Rosedale frm SE724973

Freddie and Rafe, Northdale Beck, Rosedale - SE723974

A really muddy trudge alongside Northdale Beck, Rosedale - SE724964