Country walk at Troutsdale (From Gazette & Herald)

Country walk at Troutsdale

2:03pm Friday 6th May 2011 in Country walks By Brian Beadle

IT is recorded that watermills were used in the first century, but probably not in Britain until Roman times.

The rise in the use of water-powered mills advanced from about 6,000 mills in the 16th century to more than 20,000 in the 19th century.

Originally, the mills were used for grinding corn but with advances in technology and a growing demand for cloth, some were used as fulling mills, their huge hammers pounding the cloth to improve its quality and strength.

As agricultural methods improved, farmers were able to achieve higher yields of corn making the local water mills an extremely busy and profitable business for the manorial lord who usually owned the mill.

Windmills played their part in this profitable business, making corn grinding available where water power was scarce. But they obviously relied on the wind which was variable, whereas water was usually available at anytime. There are many old mills dotted around our area, usually in a pretty derelict state. Some of the mills are now converted to houses, one windmill in Scarborough was converted, complete with sails, into a hotel. Some have been restored and have working days like the one at Skidby near Beverley and others just stand forlorn in fields as monuments to our farming heritage.

So let us take a walk among the grand scenery of Troutsdale and see the steep hills the horse-drawn corn carts had to negotiate to reach the local water mill. Troutsdale Mill is now a private house so please respect the owner’s privacy as you pass.

Your route

Leave the car park and turn right onto the road to start a steep descent. Fine views across Troutsdale now across to Hackness on your right.

Halfway down the hill, follow the road round to the right signed to Troutsdale and Hackness and continue along over a cattle grid to the bottom of the hill where you will find Troutsdale Mill. Not a mill anymore, just a private house.

Keep walking along this very quiet road and eventually pass through a farmyard that straddles the road. Not much of a farm here anymore but some buildings are being renovated. In the field as you approach the old farm, you might see Charlie, a huge white bull. Good job he’s at the other side of the fence.

Start to climb as you leave the farm then at the crest of the hill, turn left at the bridleway sign through a large gate into a wood. Start to climb now with grand views across the dale towards Cockmoor car park.

Keep climbing steadily, keeping right at the fork. When you reach the summit you are on Troutsdale Moor. Keep straight ahead on the wide track which eventually narrows and becomes grassy as it enters a wood. Exit the wood through a metal gate, cross a forest road, then re-enter the wood on a forest track opposite guided by a yellow waymark.

Further along, the track narrows and soon you have a confirmation yellow waymark guiding you straight ahead. It can be quite boggy at times but easily bypassed as the path widens and meets a chalky forest road.

Go left here to follow this road without deviation for about a mile-and-a-half then watch out for a triangle of roads. Take the smaller, rougher forest road descending on your left. If you miss this you will soon see a farm on the right proving you have gone too far.

Continue descending this rough road for some time to reach eventually a large gate. Pass through it, taking notice of the farmer’s request on the gate. Follow the track along a field, still descending, and soon bearing left, then passing a barn on the right and a farmhouse on the left to exit through a gate with the same farmer’s request.

When I crossed the field there were cows and their young on the track but they seemed friendly enough.

Pass another house on the left. This is the old Keeper’s Cottage as you will see from the name on the gate. Keep straight ahead, still on a farm road, then pass through the last gate onto a metalled road. Climb up the hill to reach the Troutsdale Road.

Bear right here following the sign for Snainton to climb the steep hill you started on all the way to the top to return to the Cockmoor car park.

The facts

Distance – 5½ miles (9km)
Time – two hours
Grading – easy
Start/grid ref – Cockmoor Hall car park, grid ref 915868
Best map – OS Outdoor Leisure 27
Parking– North York Moors National Park, Cockmoor Hall car park
Refreshments – none
Public toilets – none

View a map of the Troutsdale country walk>>