Cycle ride around Hackness Hall

In the 17th century this problem was overcome by the introduction to Britain of the ice house which was used as a game and meat larder for the gentry.

They might be a rare sight now, but that is because we aren’t looking for them – they are hidden away in the undergrowth with the largest part of the building underground.

It is thought that there are more than 2,000 ice houses still in existence in England, but probably none is in regular use.

In today’s climate of warmer winters, ice in quantity and thickness is scarce. The ice men, the unfortunates who had the job of cutting the ice and bringing it to the ice house, liked the ice to be about 10 inches thick. The ice would be cut into blocks from lakes and rivers, floated to dry land and transported by horse and cart to be stored, sometimes keeping frozen for more than twelve months.

The ice houses were generally built facing north, the deep ice pit had a superstructure usually with a domed top and brick walls. The walls would be double skinned, the cavity filled with straw for insulation.

It was often built among trees to keep it cool on the outside, but the trees played a second part, hiding it from view from the owner.

In some stately homes the owners went to great lengths to hide the ice house and the servants who visited it from view, by digging an underground tunnel from the kitchens for access. As we approach Hackness on the ride, we find the ice house of Hackness Hall hiding among the trees adjacent to the bridge just past the main entrance.

Hackness Hall has a fine freshwater lake nearby which would have been used to stock the larder high with ice in winter.

Your route

Leave the car park on a narrow path at the rear corner nearest the forest. Take the forest road to the right signed ‘Reasty to Allerston walk 16 miles’. Keep on the wide forest road as you try to avoid the man-eating potholes.

Enjoy the view on the right across to the North York Moors and the coast, then keep on the main forest road as it bears left.

Continue along for two miles to exit the forest on a narrow farm road to soon reach Broxa village.

Continue through the village and down the steep hill. Take care at the junction. Go left here, signed to Hackness and Scarborough. It’s downhill most of the way now.

Pass the local garage, then at the three-way junction at the village hall, turn right, signed to Forge Valley. Keep on the main road and soon start a short climb to pass the Everely Hotel, or you might like to take advantage and have some refreshment there.

Cycle along past the Everley to ride downhill for a mile or so to the double bends at Mowthorpe Bridge to cross the Sea Cut. Once over the bridge, a long straight ends with a short hill. As you crest the hill, turn left, signed to Raincliffe Woods and Lady Edith’s Drive.

Enjoy the ride through the woods and watch out for slippery bends.

When you leave the woods it is about a mile to a junction on your left. If you see the mere you have missed it.

Take the left turn uphill and at the crest, grand views reveal themselves, but beware, a steep descent is in front of you. At the bottom of the hill, cycle along to a junction, then go left along Hackness Road, taking care on another bridge over the Sea Cut.

Continue along and follow the road left, then soon start to climb up Hay Brow. It is a long but not severe climb and the views from the top are well worth the effort.

Keep straight ahead as you arrive at Suffield, still following signs for Hackness. Descend gently and take care at the severe double bend to start a steep downhill towards Hackness.

As you pass the grand entrance to Hackness Hall and just before the ornamental bridge, you will see the ice house on your right among the trees. Cycle along under the bridge, then past the fine church and school. Slow down as you approach a slippery corner, pass over the bridge then turn immediately right onto a narrow, slippery road signed to Low Dales, High Dales Only.

In wet weather this road turns into an overflow for Low Dales Beck a little further along, beware.

In about a mile, the road splits at a farm, take the bridleway to the right past the farm over a bridge then continue straight ahead along Whisperdales.

It is a shallow climb now over fairly rough territory through gates and over the odd stile, where you will have to lift your bike across.

Keep straight ahead for a good mile or so past a house on your left, then join a rough forest road which climbs up to the Reasty car parks.

At the top of the hill bear right, then straight ahead where the road splits to take the narrow path into the car park.

The facts

Distance – 17 miles/27km.

Terrain – Suitable for mountain bikes or strong road bikes.

Best map – OS Landranger 101.

Start/grid ref – Reasty car park, grid ref: 964944.

Parking – Reasty car parks, take the one on the left when facing the descent.

Refreshments – Everley Hotel. The Rosette at Newby (slight detour).