Add to these splendours the bubbling beck that accompanies most of this walk, unfolding ferns and fronds of bracken, feathered songsters and baa-ing lambs, and you have all the ingredients of a glorious walk.

Though just under three miles, the route includes a handsome carved oak seat which overlooks the beck, and may be extended a little to include Mill Inn. Scar & Castlebeck Woods in Harewood Dale are valuable areas owned by the Woodland Trust.

This interesting walk is easy to follow, and presents no problems other than a few muddy sections after rain, which are usually avoidable. Access to the starting point is along the A171 from Scarborough to Newby.

Beyond Proudfoot's Supermarket, turn off left between the Library and Information Centre and the Rosette Inn. At the road junction turn right along Hackness Road and pass over the bridge to ascend Hay Brow.

At the top is a road junction sign. Turn right as signed to Harwood Dale 4.5 miles. Reaching the North Riding Forest Park at Reasty Bank car park, descend to a road junction, but ignore the road signed to Low North Camp.

Instead, keep straight forward to pass Mill Inn to your left. (The name is on the roof !) This may be a refreshment stop upon your return, but do check opening times!

Climbing Helwath Road you quickly discover Chapel Farm, with a sign just beyond the right verge indicating 'Bridleway to Lilla'. Park in the vicinity, and cut across the green planted with trees, to the dry stone walling.

Keep the walling on your left as you walk away from Chapel Farm down a narrow bridleway. Pass a barn, and keep straight on to enter a gate. Continue down the field by the right hedging and gorse bushes.

Please leash any dogs if cattle are present! At the fenced field corner turn right to find a fieldgate opening into Scar & Castlebeck Woods.

Descend the leafy bridleway and note ants' nests. There are many to be observed locally, so don't be tempted to sit anywhere, or you'll certainly have ants in your pants! Woodpeckers adore ants, but must work harder! Nearing the beck, the bluebell flow begins. Just walk a little way to find a wooden footbridge.

From here admire the expanse of bluebells beneath the trees. Cross the bridge, and follow the path ahead to an almost dry, stony stream bed. HALT. From here is a forking of ways.

Bear right along a fairly level path, as the left bridleway goes uphill. Violets and golden celandines stud the ground in profusion in Maytime. The path opens onto an expanse of bracken alongside woodland.

Bluebells, anemones and masses of primroses cheer the way as your route accompanies the beck. Notice the previous high flood level.

Ascending the bank into woodland, drop down to a small stream and re-unite with the beck, overhung with alder and oak trees. Look out for orange-tip butterflies. The females are small and white, but the more handsome males have orange wing-tips.

Discover a beautiful carved memorial seat adorned with huge carved oak leaves overlooking the beck. It is dedicated to the memory of 'Jessica Cooper, Warden of this Wood'. Down a few steps to view an expanse of bluebells on the opposite bank, and then proceed with golden gorse featuring beyond. A post may be spotted, reading 'Part of the surrounding area is dedicated to the memory of Victor & Margaret Conquer. This area is cared for by the Woodland Trust.'



Leaving the woodland by a stile etc, see almost immediately beyond, a wooden footbridge. Crossing the beck, turn RIGHT to negotiate the hillside path between gorse bushes, which may prove muddy at the start. The path becomes dry as it ascends, hemmed between gorse and post and wire fencing.

Meeting stone-walling at the top, turn right and leave Scar & Castlebeck Woods by a stile alongside a fieldgate. Keep to the field edge beyond, above the bank of gorse with a steep drop into woodland. Where the gorse ends, cut across the field to join Helwath Road beyond a fieldgate.

Turning right, keep to the right, grassed verge as it soon passes between Castlebeck Farm and sheep pasture. Swallows may be seen darting overhead in the vicinity. Follow the roadside as it descends, rounding a sharp bend to cross the road-bridge and rise gently to a more level return to your starting point.

Distance – 2.75 miles approx.

Refreshment – There is nowhere en route, but if you extend your walk down to the Mill Inn, it may be open. This optional extension makes the entire route about 3.45 miles return.