Monday 31st August 2026
There was no alterative to a long there and back for this section with the need to park a car at the far point for next time. I could reduce the return distance to some extent using quiet roads. I could also see the possibility of using the disused railway line at one point leading dirctly back to my starting point, but if that was not viable I would have to carry on to the A66 death trap and opt for suicidal walking back to The Bridge, or extend the walk by footpath and roads to enter Kirkby Thore by the back door and that is what happened, so until I was back home I hadn't plotted the exact distance. It turned out to be 9.4 miles, that is more than I have walked for a long time, but although a bit tired at the end I was by no means on my knees ( good job in view of their semi artificial construction.)
After pleassnt riverside paths there were less friendly sections through woods with rugged twisting paths eventually leading to the superb red sandstone, multi arch Ousenstand Bridge. A long stretch of tarmac followed which I could see vanishing to a pinpoint, all too far ahead.
At Crossrigg Hall I was back on decent footpaths with more pleasureable walking. An unusual Victorian post box was seen here of a design I have never seen before. My path only skirted the hall, but the Wikipedia details fascinating history of a string of wealthy owners with military and East India Company comnections amongst others and leading up to modern times where there seems to have been plans to develop this into a leisure complex. I noticed the extensive use of proud and sturdy decorative cast-iron railings around the estate. During WW2 iron railings were comprehensively "acquired" by the powers that be to boost weapons and aircraft production. I wondered if these were rare survivors in this out of the way backwater. Just imagine the "Powers" coming round today and taking your railings - it is amazing the lengths gone to and the inventiveness and improvisation in the desperation of our situation at that time and that should be remembered.
Further on a man on a quad bike stopped and remarked on me being a "lone walker." We chatted with interest for perhaps ten minutes on a range of subjects partly influenced by not much of a gap beteen our advanced years.
Arriving at Cliburn I decided to return by roads which turned out to be much busier than I had anticipated perhaps due to it being August bank holiday.
After having to contnue to the A66, the footpath across the road to Kirkby Thore was blocked by large security fencing plastered with warning notices, part of the on-going major realignment of the A66. Surprisingly I managed to open the gate and complete my walk to Kirkby Thore.
