DAY 12 : ENGLAND : DANBY WISKE - INGLEBY CROSS - 17kms - 5 hours

We enjoyed our breakfast with our very enthusiastic hosts at The Old School House, Danby Wiske.

Breakfast with Doreen and Frank

 We were lucky to start out on another fine day, despite the forecast for showers across most of the country. We had a warm wind and flat start continuing on tracts through farmland, barley and cow pastures. We had the dubious honour of sharing the road with the most odious cargo - cow manure. Today was the day many of the farmers decided to have tanker loads of cow manure delivered to their recently harvested fields, ready to be ploughed back in. A real delight - not.




Cow manure manufacturers

An unexpected visitor on the track - a shy hedgehog!

We had a break under an oak tree in a farmer's field. We found that farmers had left drinks, fruit, chips etc out on tables by their farmhouses with an honesty box for tired and hungry walkers. Very welcoming. 

Food for walkers

Fresh English flapjacks available en route

We had a bit of excitement crossing a busy railway track, with tooting train warning of his arrival and a main highway - taking our life in own hands - as the guidebook suggested - 'take your time and then DASH' - which we did.

Before checking into our farmhouse accommodation we walked along a track (bush-bashed really with Bob, who thought he could find a short cut - but all we really found was nettles and boggy path) until we reached Mount Grace Priory. We climbed over a stile and discovered a breathtaking sight. Mount Grace Priory was originally of the Carthusian order. A monastic order that believed that the world is inherently wicked so lived as hermits, undistracted by temptation.  One of the most interesting facets is the drainage system - each cell was fitted with latrines and had water piped in - not bad for 1398. The site is in relatively good condition as although it was decommissioned under Henry V111 and ordered to be demolished, a local landowner purchased the land and protected it from destruction. Another owner restored one of the cells in 1899 to its former glory. Unfortunately, we couldn't see inside as in fact the site was closed - we had come inadvertently through a back entrance and had the whole place to ourselves!

Mount Grace Priory

View through to monk's cells

Tonight we are in a charming farmhouse, beautifully furnished and fitted out and run by Beverley and her teenage children.

Park House, Ingelby Cross