This section of C2C is through placid rural scenery. It is a 20 mile gap in the upland scenery, a fertile plain, little above sea level. The crossing of the Vale of Mowbray which connects Swaledale and the Cleveland Hills is the only section which lies wholly on low ground. It is rich in agriculture, mainly arable, and unspoilt. The whole distance can be covered by footpaths and bridleways but in practice we found ourselves grovelling around field edges with nothing to look at of any interest. Some walkers opt to get these miles covered more quickly by staying on tarmac.
We left Richmond over a bridge over the River Swale.
The River Swale at Richmond
The route follows the Swale for a while and then leaves the river to go through the village of Colburn.
Due to roadworks on the A1 the C2C is diverted so we had a mile or more of roadworks before we rejoined the C2C at Brompton on Swale.
Diversion
The A1 at Brompton on Swale
We followed the Swale for another mile or so before finally leaving the river at Scorton. The path goes round a quarry with amazing poppies.
Poppies in the quarry at Scorton
At Bolton on Swale the arable farmland began and we had that for another 10 miles.
10 miles of flat arable fields
This very flat walking around field edges became very tedious, the only object of interest being the line of the Cleveland Hills which was gradually getting closer.
The Cleveland Hills were gradually getting closer
Danby Wiske was slowly approached and there we rewarded our efforts with a pint and some crisps.
There followed another 2 miles of tedious arable field edges and then a mile of grass verge along the A167 to Lovesome Barn where we were staying .
Our spirits were not quashed despite the tedious terrain.
Still smiling…
30 km with 284m of elevation.
The GPX file for the route that we followed is here.
Old Bat On A Bike. 