Brompton on Swale skirting Skeeby

A 5 mile walk in unspoiled and quiet farmland

We set off from the Crown pub in the village and crossed the road to walk down Grange Road. This leads to the riverside walk along the banks of the calm looking but often treacherous River Swale. There is a lectern type board on the way that describes the various birdlife and plants that exist by the river and if you're lucky you may sight a heron or a kingfisher. Following the path around the river bend you eventually come back to the village road. Cross here and turn left to follow the path, crossing Parkgate lane on the way before turning right up the public bridleway just after the shallow stone bridge. Follow the path alongside sheep grazing in the fields and as the ground rises you will come to a gate. Once through you will be sharing the field with inquisitive sheep who took a liking to my daughter and followed her until we reached the next gate, keeping the fenceline on our left. Once through the gate you have an option to turn right and follow a path down to the side of a lake or go straight on along the farm road until you reach a gate on the right with blue arrow on the gate post. Through the gate the path follows a wire fence on your right that is home to some horses and leads down to a bridge over skeeby beck. Turning right follow the beck until the land rises and you come to another gate. Through the gate turn left and follow upwards and through fields until you reach Hill Top Farm at the top of Parkgate Lane. Turn right and follow the lane down until you reach a left turn that takes you onto what was once part of the Catterick Garrison to Richmond railway track and follow until you reach a T that leads to a farm on the left or right towards Brompton Park. Follow the track past the primary school on your right, cross the road and continue down the lane until you come to the main Richmond Road. Turn right and follow the path back to the Crown.