Scaling Dam ~ Medium Walk

 

Distance Covered: 4 miles Time to Complete Walk 2 hours

Suitable for dog walking: Yes

Scaling Dam is a reservoir which is also used for sailing and birdwatching. Theres also a good circular walk ideal for a dog walk or short walk. Please note that if the ground is boggy the circular route may be cut short towards the end. This is good however as this lengthens the walk as a there and back walk and becomes a decent sized walk!

General Safety Tips: It can windy near the dam, dress for the weather.The second half of the walk can get overgrown - take a walking stick in case you need to negotiate the path.

                                         The Scaling Dam Walk

Getting There

From Middlesbrough Head onto the A171 towards Whitby. Scaling Dam can be found on a right hand turning just before Tranmire. There is ample parking and  parking is free of charge.

Maps of the Scaling Dam Walk 

The Walk

From the car park head right to a bird watching hut if you are interested in bord watching!

Return back to the path and head right onto a path signed to the toilets

Head onto the grass path besides the reservoir

Head onto a grassy path on the left signed as the circular path

Follow the path around with the embankment below

Follow the path passing a car park and through a gate

Head over a footbridge

Follow the path over a series of footbridges and boardwalks

The route passes close to the moors and there is a picnic are on the right.

Continue on the path and over a stile

Head through some thick undergrowth and down and then right through a gate

Head over another footbridge and if able to you can head onto the beach are near the reservoir. Swimming is banned though!

At this point the ground becomes boggy and may be cordonned off. However you now are able to retrace your steps back to the start!

Scaling Dam 

Scaling Dam Reservoir is a freshwater man-made lake on the edge of the A171 road in North Yorkshire, England. The reservoir is near to the hamlet of Scaling from where it derives its name, and was built in 1958.

The reservoir lies inside the North York Moors National Park and the western half is in the Borough of Redcar and Cleveland, whilst the eastern half is in the Borough of Scarborough.

Scaling Dam Reservoir was built between 1952 and 1958 at a cost of £450,000 and is the largest lake in the North York Moors.The area that the reservoir is built in was named Scaling Dam long before the reservoir was built in 1958; mapping and records show a hamlet of Scaling Dam in the early nineteenth century, and the name is mentioned in Camden's 17th century "Britannia".The dam was constructed by the Tees Valley and Cleveland Water Company and despite being in North Yorkshire (though its on the border between Redcar and Cleveland and the Borough of Scarborough), the dam is owned and regulated by Northumbrian Water. However, fresh water from the dam was historically supplied to Yorkshire Water, though this practice stopped in 2012.

Unusually, the dam wall is long, running along the width of the reservoir on the northern side. Dam walls are usually narrow against the water that they hold back. As such the deepest point, near the dam wall, is only 30 feet (9 m).

Water leaving the dam exits as Dam Beck, which on its 3.7-mile (6 km) journey to the North Sea via the fishing village of Staithes, changes to Roxby Beck, Easington Beck and then finally Staithes Beck.

As the Environment Agency classify the water quality as being good, Scaling Dam Reservoir is a suitable venue for angling, walking and swimming. The dam also is home to the Scaling Dam Sailing Club. There is a visitor centre and shop which sells angling supplies and parts of the reservoir are accessible for disabled anglers.

Besides the fish (which have been introduced for angling), the site is noted for a regular appearance of ospreys during the spring and summer months, and the Nathusius' pipistrelle bat. As Scaling Dam is located close to the North Sea coast, it is an attractive site for migratory birds during the winter months, when human activity on the dam is not allowed.

The western edge of the reservoir is also the site of a nature reserve, and whilst there is no public access, people can walk around the edges of the reserve and the reservoir.

Fridaythorpe ~ Hard Walk

 

Distance Covered: 6 miles Time to Complete Walk 3 hours

Suitable for dog walking: No

A walk in the open countryside- this walk offers extensive views of the Wolds. Starting from the village of Fridaythorpe this walk is great if you want a nice tranquil walk and is a decent work out as it has stages of moderate climbing. 

General Safety Tips: Take extra care on this walk as cattle were present and may be cows with calves - luckily there are plenty of detours- its always best to avoid cows especially if with calves. Dont attempt this walk if you have a phobia of cows!

A lot of the gates were padlocked- you would have to climb over certain gates and a good level of fitness is required to do this.

Part of the walk is through a busy farmyard with farm vehicles moving - take extra care!

The Fridaythorpe Walk

Getting There

From Middlesbrough head towards Helmsley on the A172. Head out of Helmsley on the A170 through Sproxton on the B1257. Keep on the B1257 through Malton. Head out of Malton on the B1248. At Towthorpe take a right turning onto the B1251 which takes you to Fridaythorpe. Park on the roadside on Back Street which is free.

Maps of the Fridaythorpe Walk 

The Walk

From the roadside parking head back to the junction and turn right.

Head up the road until you come to the second turn off on your left with a Yorkshire Wolds signpost on it

Head down the lane and at a fork look for a gate to your right.

Go through the gate and head to the right passing a bench with a view!

Keep heading to the right and through a gate

Head along the path to the side of the field and head left and around in another field

Keep ahead on the track which soon approaches a farm ahead

Head into the farmyard keeping ahead left into another open farmyard area

In the second farmyard head up to the left to a statue near the farmhouse

Head out of the farm to the right via the access road

After 350 yards look for a hedge with a waymark- head to the left keeping to the right side of the hedge

At a gate keep heading down the track to a set of gates

Keep right to the side of the gate and wire fence and head down to another gate

Go through the gate and head left climbing up a path to the top and some great views.

Head left along the ridge and soon you arrive at a fence up on your right. Go through this gate

Head alongside the hedge and soon you come to a road. Head left towards a farm

Before the farm head right onto an enclosed path

Emerge back onto the road and follow the road down

Soon you come to a junction and another road. Head left and follow the road which climbs up

The road climbs until it reaches a sign for Northfield Farm

Head left onto a track near the hedge

The track soon comes to and end- go through the gap on your right and follow the track to the side of the field

Soon you come to another gate. Head through this gate and follow the track down. 

Head towards a footbridge and left onto the track which will take you back to the gate at the start of your walk. Retrace your steps back to Fridaythorpe!

Fridaythorpe

Fridaythorpe is a village and civil parish in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It is situated approximately 8 miles (13 km) north-east of Pocklington town centre and lies on the A166 road. It is 550 feet (170 m) above sea level, making it the highest village in the Yorkshire Wolds.

According to the 2011 UK census, Fridaythorpe parish had a population of 319, an increase on the 2001 UK census figure of 183.

The name means "village of a man named Fridag", from an Old English name Frigedæg (or a similar Old Scandinavian name Frijádagr) and Old Norse þorp "village".

St Mary's Church, Fridaythorpe was restored in 1902–3 with the addition of a new north aisle designed by C. Hodgson Fowler and stained glass by Burlison and Grylls. In January 1967 the church was designated a Grade I listed building and is now recorded in the National Heritage List for England, maintained by Historic England. It is on the Sykes Churches Trail devised by the East Yorkshire Churches Group.

The Yorkshire Wolds Way National Trail, a long distance footpath passes through the village and the village is the midpoint of the trail.

Village amenities include a Mace general shop and petrol filling station, an agricultural store, a vehicle mechanic business, and a cafe.

Seaways Cafe

In 1823 Fridaythorpe inhabitants numbered 275. Occupations included eleven farmers, three wheelwrights, two blacksmiths, two grocers, two shoemakers, three tailors, a tanner, and the landlords of the Cross Keys and Hare & Hounds public houses. Carriers operated between the village and Driffield every Thursday, and York every Saturday. In the village was a Methodist chapel.

The village previously hosted the World Championship Flat Cap Throwing Competition at its summer fete. The championship was last contested in 2014.