DAY EIGHT: Bishop Wilton to Slingsby (15 June 2021)
Distance: 54 km (34 miles)
Ascent: 700 m
Legs: This short(er) day was made easier by being broken into three chunks with decent breaks
Today could have felt like groundhog day if it wasn't for the fact that I am cycle touring and travelling up an ever changing country. Realising that I might not be getting the best view and impression of the Yorkshire Wolds I adjust the route to take in Thixendale (a random but inspired choice), Malton (foodie heaven), Kirkham Priory (closed), Castle Howard (by happy accident) then Slingsby.
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| Yet another rare selfie! |
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| Campsite neighbour |
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| Leaving camp with the rising sun |
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| The view above Bishop Wilton |
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| The view above Bishop Wilton |
Having decided to see more of the Yorkshire Wolds proper I start the day by climbing out of Bishop Wilton up onto the Wolds.
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| I sometimes wondered at the shadow following me until I realised it was my trailer flag |
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| Potato field |
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| Even within Yorkshire you know when you enter its different administrations |
Thixendale surprises me as it is an old village with a newer practical housing estate. Leaving Thixendale and I find myself stopping every 200 meters to admire the view and take a photo. It looks like a blueprint Lancelot "Capability" Brown might have used in creating his picturesque landscapes for the grand estates. A keen cyclist pulls along side me for the usual cycle chat; his grand tour was to participate in the London-Edinburgh-London cycle ride which is 1500 km in just 125 hours. That's 300 km a day over five days. A normal person's 20 km per hour pace would mean 15 hours pedaling each day. For many keen cyclists this would be a fine challenge travelling light on their lightweights bikes. They would embrace long and fast but shudder at the though of trundling short distances with a trailer; each to their own.
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| Malton to Kirkham Priory |
At Kirkham the Priory is closed - as its Monday - so I take the opportunity to lie down and rest in what shade there is. As I am preparing to leave a woman pulls up and like me, is only partially disappointed to see the priory closed. She quickly starts a conversion as her husband is working in nearby Thixendale and she has a day to kill. She is a farmer, three daughters, two grandchildren and though based near Doncaster likes to get away for days or nights when the farm allows and the Wolds is a good getaway as it does not have the tourists of the National Parks. This was to a general theme that my route took in AONB but generally avoided National Parks so you get the beauty but not the crowds.
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| Kirkham Priory |
As I cycle on I pull over to allow room for a pick-up truck coming the other way. The truck pulls up, window down, and a smiling man warns me of two big dogs down the hill and round the corner. He sees my obvious alarm and after what I think is a re-assuring word drives on. Proceeding with caution and considering my options when I meet the two rabid dogs I am reassured when I turn the corner and see two Newfoundlands gently towing a petite middle-aged woman along the road. After a brief stop at Castle Howard for a coffee I make for Slingsby which is one of those villages built to support large estates. It still shows it heritage as many of the doors have the same colour scheme which mark them as still belonging to the estate.
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| Towards Castle Howard |
With one more day to go I finish the last of the food I'd been carrying before an evening walk where I soon find a self-service cake stall. Someone has erected approximately ten signs pointing to a house window which is left ajar. Deposit £3 and take a cake. I comply and enjoy some cake.
I have cycled enough in the hills to realise the effort needed to haul cooking equipment and food. Though I am tempted to ditch it in Richmond (by which I mean the nearby but lessor known village of Colburn) I realise that I actually enjoy the option of cooking for myself.
