Four groups left the coaches at the Lion Inn on Blakey Ridge.  With only my group of 12 descending to Farndale, I led the group around the north side of the inn and followed a good track on the north side of a wall and down to the disused mineral railway line.  Joining the line (a good firm track), we headed SSE in hazy sunshine and with little wind and with excellent views down into Farndale.  As the track approached the road down Blakey Ridge, we turned right to join a minor road (Long Lane) heading to Church Houses.  This was a fairly steep descent but I warned the group that this was nothing compared to the descent near the end of the walk.  Anyhow, we continued the descent enjoying the views into the valley.  After crossing a cattle grid , I mentioned that we were aiming for a church which we could see to the left of the road before Church Houses.  So the leading group stopped at the entrance to the RoW leading to the church, then we all crossed the field, passed thro a gate and entered the graveyard attached to the church.  Finding  seats, we all sat down outside the church enjoying our coffee stop and more to the point, the beautiful display of daffodils all around the church.  For once, the Phoenix had arrived in Farndale at the right time for a great display making up for several visits when the daffs were just in bud or on one occasion when they were just peeping above the soil and other occasions when they were dying or dead.

After our coffee stop we headed down to Church Houses and then joined the daffodil walk to Low Mill.  The good path which heads S alongside the east bank of the River Dove has groups of daffodils at various points on both sides of the path all the 3 Km to Low Mill.  This walk attracted a good number of visitors mostly in the opposite direction to that which we were walking.  I had decided to have a lunch stop at Low Mill so we looked around for a suitable spot but the best we found was a single seat for 4 people with the rest of us sat on nearby walls.

After lunch and visits to the nearby loo we started heading S thro the hamlet and then taking a minor road heading E to Waste Bridge which crossed the R Dove.  After crossing the bridge and reaching a T junction, we joined a track opposite and started climbing towards Cragg Cottage.  Reaching the cottage we passed to the right and then turned left on a good path along the back wall of the property from where we had a good view of the many daffs in the back garden of the cottage.  A 170 deg turn then brought us SSE on a reasonably steep climb which then leveled out as the path turned S.    Reaching a stone wall, we turned E and after an initial steep climb, the path leveled out somewhat as we headed to the road along the top of Blakey Ridge.  Reaching the road, we turned NNW  and followed the verge for 0.7 Km where a good track was heading NE past Rudland Rook.  This path then turned east until it reached an old mineral railway line.  Joining the line which provided excellent walking, we initially headed SSE although the line then twisted its way along the top of the valley with excellent views into Rosedale.  On the way we were met by a number of small flocks of sheep who looked on inquisitively.  Near Hob Crag we found a stone slab as part of a small monument so as we were in good time, we had an afternoon stop overlooking Rosedale Abbey and our coaches.  We continued along the railway line, eventually heading S for a short distance until we reached a minor road.  We then turned NNE down the road which became steeper and steeper reaching 1:3 at one point according to a road sign.  Nearing the bottom of the hill I had intended turning left to include a small loop.  However, more concerned with the effect the downhill was having on my right knee, I forgot, until we were past the turn off with a couple of people way ahead of the main group.  While I managed to get them to stop, no way were they prepared to walk the 100 m or so back up the hill.  Who was I to argue, so we continued the short distance down the hill to the coaches.

A very enjoyable walk in good weather and with lovely scenery including the display of daffodils.  Shame about the 1:3 descent into Rosedale.