Hodge Beck, Urra Moor, Coast to Coast
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Hodge Beck from the Badger Stone. Cockayne Ridge is beyond the Beck.
Hodge Beck, Urra Moor, Coast to Coast
Hodge Beck is a major artery for water drainage on Urra Moor and Todd Intake Moor, originating at a pool at the side of the Coast to Coast path. A large number of drainage dykes have been created to direct rainwater to the Hodge Beck, which flows through its valley in a southerly direction to reach the woodland at the foot of Bransdale Moor above the farming hamlet of Cockayne.
Hodge Beck is also known as the Badger Gill, no doubt taking its name from the Badger Stone, beside which it flows just before reaching the wood. Different parts of the woodland have different names but the nearest to which the Hodge Beck flows is Beck Plantation. The pool from which Hodge Beck originates is only 200 metres from Round Hill.
The Beck merges with Bloworth Slack at Bransdale Mill, just south of Cockayne. Here the Beck was anciently dammed (circa 13th century) to create a series of feed pools for the Mill Race. Hodge Beck is eventually subsumed by the River Dove in the Vale of Pickering. Shortly before its merger the Beck passes through Kirk Dale, an area of limestone. Near its exit from the Dale the Beck passes over a ford carrying a road to kirkbymoorside. The nearby Kirkdale Cave is associated with the Beck, and prehistoric fossilised bones have been found there.
Hodge Beck Issue
The pond from which Hodge Beck, also known as Badger Gill, issues is close to the summit of Round Hill. As the Beck completes its downward flow towards Bransdale it is joined by drainage from the scores of drainage dykes created with the express intention of draining this area of moorland. The OS shows no less than 34 dykes draining into Hodge Beck. The Beck flows 14 miles before it is subsumed by the River Dove which issues in the adjoining Farndale Moorland.
Drainage Dykes
As you walk along the south-bound path from Cockayne Head, it is easy to see many of the drainage dykes, those starting beside the path and those starting on the far valley wall. They lead to the Hodge Beck as it flows downstream.
Hodge Beck Badger Stone
Following the moorland road to the Badger Stone also leads to Hodge Beck, where it can be seen flowing from the higher contours around Round Hill to the lower contours of Cockayne.
Hodge Beck to Urra Moor
When looking north from the Badger Stone, Hodge Beck is still very much in its infancy, unlike its appearance when looking south from the Stone.
Hodge Beck Badger Stone
Where Hodge Beck reaches the Badger Stone its waters take on a deep crimson hue, from the iron in the ground.
Hodge Beck Todd Intake
After passing the Badger Stone the truncated spurs of Hodgebeck Valley grow in size and depth as the Beck speeds its way increasingly towards Bransdale. No further drainage dykes join it after passing the Badger Stone.
Hodge Beck Cockayne
The ribbon of trees marching downhill from Bransdale Moor flag the course of Hodge Beck. Leaving Bransdale the Hodge Beck flows through Beck Plantation to the west of the small hamlet of Cockayne and subsumes Bloworth Slack, which has made its way through Bloworth Wood, around the east of Cockayne. The two watercourses merge at Bransdale Mill.
Hodge Beck Kirkdale Woods
From Bransdale Mill the Hodge Beck flows into Sleightholm Dale and is next funnelled through a gorge in Kirkdale Woods. As it leaves the Woods it passes slightly east of St Gregory's 9th century Saxon Church and almost immediately passes to the west of Kirkdale Cave, where prehistoric animal remains have been discovered.
Hodge Beck Kirkdale Ford
When Hodge Beck attains Hold Caldron, an area of limestone in Kirk Dale, much of the Beck's water disappears below ground through a number of small swallow holes. It re-springs about 100 metres south of the Kirkdale Ford and Bridge, near to the viaduct of the disused railway at Howkeld. During heavy rain, water flows both below ground and above ground near the Ford.
Kirkdale Cave Kirk Dale
Kirkdale Cave appears to have once been associated with the adjacent Hodge Beck. In the cave the fossilised remains of large animals have been found, includng hippopotamus, rhinocerus, elephant, bison, elk and cave hyenas. It is thought the hyenas had their den in the cave and dragged their pray there to eat it.
Coast to Coast Trail Guide
Hiking the Coast to Coast
"Hiking the Coast to Coast" is a digitally enhanced eBook available from Apple Books for all people who have either a Mac, an iPhone or an iPad, and is designed to accompany you on your walk of the Coast to Coast path. The trail guide contains Ordnance Survey maps and other advanced mapping features, step by step directions, hundreds of colour photographs, details of the route, its conditions in different weather and research snippets relating to places of interest along the way.
