. . . 
Tuesday 16th January 2001
Weather: A nice day - cold on the moor top
Today's walk: Egton Bridge - Grange Head Farm - Murk Mire Moor - In Moor
( 6 miles )
. . .
Today's walk starts at the small village of Egton Bridge (Grid Ref: 805 054)
The village is
beautifully situated in a steep-sided valley by the River Esk. It
is one of England's most famous Roman Catholic parishes and was
the birthplace c 1599 of Father Nicholas Postgate - 'Martyr of
the Moors'. He trained as a priest in France
( it was then illegal in England where Catholics were persecuted
) and returned in 1630 as a missionary. After his return, and for
years, he roamed the moors on horseback and in disguise, saying
Mass, giving Communion and comforting the sick.
In 1679 he was arrested whilst baptizing a child at nearby
Littlebeck, then taken to York and hung, drawn and quartered.
Relics of his work can be seen in the massive church of St
Hedda's ( top left )
From the car park
just above the church, walk downhill alongside the road and
across the fine stone bridge ( above right )
which was built in 1993 to replace an iron bridge and more to
resemble the original 1758 structure
which was destroyed by floods in 1930
Follow the road round to the right and continue along to a junction
. . . 
An alternative and far more picturesque and romantic start to the walk is to turn right before reaching the bridge along the road to Glaisdale and then look for the sign on your left about 250 yards further on ' To the Stepping Stones '
There are two sets
of stepping stones to cross and please remember this particular
route can only be taken
when the waters of the River Esk are low and if you have a good
sense of balance!
Whichever way you decide to go you'll arrive at a road junction near the Horseshoe Inn
( Avoid temptation, it's far too early in the walk to call in for a pint - you'll get another chance at the end! )
Continue straight along the road signposted to ' Rosedale ' and across the beck ( ford and footbridge )
Just past this lovely stone cottage leave the road and go up the access track to Grange Head Farm on the left
The track climbs fairly gently and there are some good views across the fields on the right to The Delves ( a farm )
. . . 
Next, the track passes between the old farm buildings of Hall Grange Farm . . .
. . . and just past there are good views east towards Glaisdale ( in the far distance ) . . .
. . . and Delves Farm
The track flattens out and is easy walking for about ¼ of a mile or so ( here looking back )
It was near this
point, in the trees and fields, that we saw a flock of at least
100, perhaps even 200 Goldfinches
- great to see after the recent news of the sad decline, through
disease, of many species of British wild birds
On reaching the old
tin-sheeted building in the centre of the photo where the track
turns sharp right to Grange Head Farm
go through the gate on your left and climb up the hillside
walking between and then across a couple of ditches
Keep going more or less straight up the hill until you reach a
stone wall - towards a corner of it you will see a tiny stile
- cross the stile onto Murk Mire Moor
Follow the wall
around to your left and then head for a row of grouse-shooting
butts diagonally to your right
There are several small sheep tracks to follow - the road you're
aiming for is only a couple of hundred yards or so to your right
There are many rows
of grouse butts on the North York Moors - they are made of
anything from just a few wooden boards
to elaborate, circular stone constructions like the one shown
above
On reaching the
road turn left and walk downhill for about 50 yards then at the
bridleway sign on the right
turn onto the track which bears slightly right ( east ) across In
Moor
This cairned track
was much better than I expected but I would advise you to only
attempt today's walk in fair weather
The moor up here is bleak and even in today's fine conditions it
was very cold
From near the start
of the track across In Moor, provided weather is clear,
Fylingdales early warning station
can be seen on the horizon dead ahead about 5 miles away
The track then descends down off the moor through the dormant but golden-coloured bracken
. . . 
Continue through a couple of gates until you reach the road between Egton and Goathland
You may have already noticed, I love taking pictures of gates and stone walls, sorry . . .
Turn left along the
road and follow it for about ¼ of a mile with a forest to your
right
Go past the track signposted Murkside House and soon after going
uphill for a short distance
go through a gate on your right ( signposted with a carved ruin )
and follow the path parallel with the stone wall on your right
There are good
views east from here down to the Murk Esk Valley between Grosmont
and Goathland
and if you're lucky in the spring/summer months, you'll see the
North York Moors steam train chuffing along the dale
. . . 
Continue through another gate and along a walled lane
I've never seen so many holly berries as there are this year - perhaps it was all the autumn rains?
We then again came across the footpath sign we saw earlier - it signifies the Newtondale Horse Trail
At the end of the
lane go through the gate and turn right and go down the narrow
tarmac road to High Burrows Farm
Immediately after passing the farm, turn left down the concrete
access road and continue downhill past Low Burrows
Now which way past this lot, left or right . . . ?
. . . 
On reaching another road go straight across, through the gate and steeply down the access road to Honeybee Nest Cottage
Continue past the
cottage and down the field until you reach a splendid wooden
footbridge that spans the River Esk
- cross the bridge and on reaching a flat track next to the white
house ( Beckside Farm ) . . .
. . . 
. . . take a detour for a couple of hundred yards to the right to reach Toll Cottage
This good track is a permissive footpath and was, obviously, a toll road many years ago - the prices above were charged in 1948
Having visited the old toll house, turn and follow the track back to Egton Bridge, finally emerging near the chuch
The delightful Garden Cottage ( above ) is passed just before you re-enter the village
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