Brompton, Wykeham and Sawdon cycle ride

Around 1,000BC, which is referred to as the urn period, the urn people made a serious attempt to live on the moors and dales leaving us evidence of their existence with finds of urns and tools.

The three tremblers are barrows where the urn people buried their cremated dead. When the barrows were excavated, there was an urn with a deep neck, a bronze dagger and a flint knife in one trembler and a large urn and a jet pendant in another.

There is also evidence of a stone circle at the most northerly of the three tremblers, but nothing was found there.

Not far away another stone circle was discovered on the edge of the escarpment overlooking Troutsdale where a broken urn filled with burnt bones was found as well as other interesting pots.

As I researched this article, I came upon an interesting fact about stone circles. There was usually a mother-goddess associated with stone circle worship who was nicknamed the Old Wife, and the pathways leading to the circle are today known as Old Wife’s Trod, or Old Wife’s Way. Perhaps the Old Wife’s Way leading to Newgate Foot is associated with the standing stones in the area around Blakey Topping?

Why are the barrows in Wykeham Forest called the three tremblers? No one knows for sure, but some think it could be to do with the constellations in the night sky. The tremblers representing the handle of the plough.

Other pieces of historical interest on this ride are the Ice House at Wykeham, now restored and open to view, but take a torch with you, and the fine church and separate clock tower next to it.

The ride starts from Brompton, the village of the springs. These springs are found opposite the school and feed a large fish pond and a mill pond.

Adjacent to the springs on the top of the hill a grand castle once stood, now only the mound remains, it was owned by the kings of Northumbria.

Legend says that one of the knights at the castle committed a gory murder of a young girl there. Perhaps he got his just reward and was hung, drawn and quartered at Gallows Hill just down the road towards Wykeham.

Your route

Start from Glaves butchers shop, not forgetting to buy one of their superb pork pies for the journey. Ride towards the main road, but in a few yards, turn left along a narrow road.

Soon pass Brompton’s scenic pond on your left and the church on your right, then continue straight ahead along an even narrower road to a T- junction. Go left here, soon to cross a small bridge, then to another T-junction. Go right here and take the road towards Sherburn.

Soon you leave the village behind to cross the valley, then not far after the ‘Fishing’ board, turn left onto a single track road, known locally as Pheasant Lane.

Enjoy the scenery across the vale as the road twists and turns to eventually reach the A170. Turn right here with great care onto this busy road to climb a short hill, then down to Wykeham village. Go left in the village at the Downe Arms signed to North Moor.

If you would like to visit the Ice House, turn right immediately past the church along a muddy path. The Ice House is on the right a little further along.

Continue along the road to North Moor climbing steeply at first, then a gentle climb to the forestry houses. Continue along into the forest.

As the road starts to dip, turn left onto a narrow road. If you want to see the three tremblers, turn right onto the next forest road. Where it bears right to join another road, the tremblers are on your left.

If you are not taking the diversion, continue straight ahead and eventually you will reach a T-junction at Granary Farm. Turn left here into the village of Sawdon where refreshment is waiting for you at the Anvil Arms or continue along to the main road.

Turn right with care onto the road into the village of Brompton, then just after the Cayley Arms, turn left to return to the butchers before they close for another of their delicious pork pies.

The facts

Distance – 15miles/24km

Terrain – Easy

Best map – OS Landranger 101

Start/Grid Ref – Brompton, grid ref: 946821

Refreshments – Glaves the Butchers pie at Brompton, pubs at Brompton, Wykeham and Sawdon

Guide book – Exploring Ryedale, Moor & Wold by Bicycle by J Brian Beadle published by Trailblazer at £2.50 contains similar routes. Available from Trailblazer Outdoors in Pickering, book shops, Pickering railway station and tourist information centres.