A walk from Helmsley that will end in ruins (From Gazette & Herald)

A walk from Helmsley that will end in ruins

THE start for this month's walk is from the car park adjacent to the Helmsley Walled Garden and Helmsley Castle.

Appropriately, it is also the start of the 98-mile Cleveland Way which we will follow as far as Rievaulx.

The five-acre Walled Garden was built in 1756 and was the kitchen garden to Duncombe Park. It supplied vegetables, fruit, cut flowers and pot plants until 1914 when it became too expensive to maintain.

In 1850, a large lean-to greenhouse and vine house were added and in 1910 an orchid house was built. After 1914, the garden was leased by a market gardener until his retirement in 1974 when the garden started to deteriorate.

In 1994, a local woman, Alison Ticehurst took the lease and started restoration of the plot. She was joined in 1997 by Paul Radcliffe and with volunteers progress was made, and eventually the Walled Garden became a charity.

Sadly, Alison died suddenly, but the restoration carried on and is still going on today. I have been several times to the garden and have seen a transformation taking place, with original paths being replaced and more recently the outstanding Orchid House being restored. The Walled Garden is home to 250 clematis varieties, more than 50 apple trees and more than 30 vines.

A visit to the garden is a delight and you are able to buy plants raised in the garden and take refreshment in the Caf Conservatory.

The Helmsley Walled Garden is open all year round, and if you simply want to buy the plants you can visit their market stall in Helmsley on Fridays.

This is a linear walk as there is no suitable return path. You can either catch the Moorsbus from Rievaulx to Helmsley or retrace your steps through the wood on the path you came on.

The facts

Distance - 6 miles (10km).

Time - Three hours.

Start/parking - Helmsley, car park near the castle, grid ref 610838.

Best map - OS Outdoor Leisure 26

Refreshments - The Walled Garden Caf, pubs and cafes in Helmsley.

Public toilets - Adjacent to Helmsley Market Place in the car park and at the Walled Garden.

Guide book - Twelve Scenic Walks around Ryedale, Pickering and Helmsley by J Brian Beadle published by Trailblazer at £2.50 contains routes in the same area. Available from Ryedale Rambler, Helmsley Castle, Dalby Forest Visitor Centre, book shops and tourist information centres.

Your route

At the exit of the car park, a few yards past the toilets, turn left along a stony lane following the acorn waymark and a Cleveland Way signpost.

Keep straight ahead when the access road to the Walled Garden bears left. Climb along the lane to a small gate into a field, then take another gate into another field. Exit this field through another gate, bearing left at the Cleveland Way signpost. Walk along the narrow path to the edge of a wood, then turn right as indicated.

Eventually exit this path through a gate and descend on man-made stone steps into the wood, where you soon ascend on stone steps, then through two gates to leave the wood.

Continue straight ahead, passing confirmation waymarks and you will soon arrive at a large clearing with an interesting small house. Pass the house and exit onto a woodside path, before entering the wood.

There is a a long descent now to the road. Turn left here onto a narrow footpath, then onto the road as indicated.

In about half a mile at the bridge, go right signed to Rievaulx. If you are not going to visit the abbey and you would like to sit down to eat your packed lunch, continue into the village and you will see a seat.

If you are not going to return on the Moorsbus retrace your steps to the bridge, then turn left. Look out for the roadside footpath you came on, then turn right into the wood at the sign for Cleveland Way, Helmsley. Continue following signs for Cleveland Way all the way back to Helmsley.

You will notice the grand views as you approach the last part of the walk. If you look towards the castle you will see the Walled Garden adjacent to it.

When you reach the car park follow the sign for the Walled Garden if you wish to pay a visit.

Updated: 12:41 Wednesday, April 05, 2006