Doncaster Ramblers go on the trail of a bloody battle

This Tuesday walk was not intended to be a drawn-out expedition, but the hope was we’d enjoy the information panels on the Battle of Towton Trail at a leisurely pace, before a pub lunch and a longer route home.
Doncaster Ramblers inspect an information panel on the Battle of Towton trailDoncaster Ramblers inspect an information panel on the Battle of Towton trail
Doncaster Ramblers inspect an information panel on the Battle of Towton trail

As it happened the pub was shut, we raced through the first part and had lunch in a farmyard, feeding ponies.

But the weather was kind to us, the company brilliant, and we were back outside the Greyhound by two.

For history buffs, courtesy of Wikipedia, the Battle of Towton was fought on Palm Sunday, March 29, 1461, during the English Wars of the Roses, near Towton, North Yorkshire.

Doncaster Ramblers tackling a nine-mile Edale circuitDoncaster Ramblers tackling a nine-mile Edale circuit
Doncaster Ramblers tackling a nine-mile Edale circuit
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It was ‘probably the largest and bloodiest battle ever fought on English soil’ as an estimated 50,000 soldiers fought for hours amid a snowstorm.

It brought about a change of monarchs in England, with Edward IV displacing Henry VI, establishing the House of York on the English throne and driving the incumbent House of Lancaster out.

For walking buffs the route:

From the Greyhound pub, Main Street, Saxton, head north on Colcher’s Lane for half-a-mile to merge with B1217. After quarter of a mile, turn right along path to first panel;

Return then turn right for another quarter of a mile and turn left to cross road and reach second panel;

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There now follows a one-and-a-quarter-mile wide sweeping path with the remaining panels to enjoy;

At a junction of paths, turn right for half a mile to reach the Rockingham Arms – and a final panel depicting Towton at the time of the battle.

Retrace your steps to continue the route;

At the junction of paths turn left down Old London Road for 1,400 yards then turn sharp left;

Continue on Chantry Lane for a mile and a third and turn left;

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Head south for a mile and 700yds, turn left and follow road for just more than a mile, finally turning left to reach the Greyhound.

The following Tuesday, a wonderfully warm, sunny day, we tackled an Edale circuit of just under nine miles.

Leaving the Edale car park at 10am we walked up into the village and then took the lovely path at the base of Broad-Lee Bank Tor to Barber Booth and then to Upper Booth before reaching the foot of Jacob’s Ladder – a rest for refreshments preceded the long, steady climb.

We took several opportunities to admire the scenery.

Turning north, we worked our way along to the southern edge of the Kinder Plateau and eastwards to Ringing Roger, passing the major valleys of Crowden Clough and Grindsbook Clough.

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We made many stops to rest and admire the views and chat to people going in the opposite direction.

We had another rest on top of Ringing Roger before the scramble at the start of the descent, followed by the more gentle walk back into Edale.

We completed the nine miles in about six wonderful hours, feeling tired but refreshed after our first moderate-to-strenuous walk in six months.