Distance: 12.5 miles
The weather report indicated a hot day ahead, so we left Richmond and The Old Brewery B&B early to beat the heat.
The path took us along the River Swale on a pleasant, wooded trail.
We were afforded one last look at Richmond.
The woods were delightfully cool, with bluebells and wild garlic growing profusely on either side of the trail.
A very colorful duck (a mallard?) posed for us as we walked by the river.
Having left the woods behind, we walked mostly on country lanes through farmland for the rest of the day, with little shade. As the day warmed up, even the cattle were looking for a little relief!
The farmland was quite colorful, punctuated by the brilliant yellow, flowering rapeseed fields.
We stopped to have a picnic under a tree at Bolton-on-Swale, which boasts a curiosity, a former resident, Henry Jenkins, buried in the churchyard who apparently lived to be 169 years old! Some commentators attempt to support that claim, although I suspect the truth is slightly exaggerated in this matter.
Along the roadside, we passed an aged treehouse being slowly stretched by the growing tree. Another something to ponder: how long ago did children enjoyed this edifice?
Arriving at the White Swan in Danby Wiske we checked in, had a cold shower and then a cool drink with boots off on the inviting lawn.
On my first C2C hike the previous year I had stayed at the nearby Old School House B&B in Danby Wiske, so I walked down the street and had a good visit with its owners, Frank and Doreen. For dinner, we returned to the White Swan which was under new management and in the midst of remodeling; they kindly ordered for us a take-out meal.