Settrington Beacon

 From our past investigations you may know that a Fizgig is a frivolous woman, fond of gadding about in search of pleasure. A fizgig is also a type of firework that hissed rather than banged.  Gig is another word that has had many meanings; Chaucer knew it as a fickle woman but Shakespeare considered it to be a child’s top. Fizz meaning bubbly came along much later, probably as an imitative sound. It may be the same word as the obsolete fise for a smelly fart. 

7.  Walk along the grassy path which runs down the hill towards the gate over on your left. There could be sheep here so dogs may have to be on leads. 

8. Go through the gate and continue straight ahead across the fairly flat field towards the next gate, which is the problematic one, with the stile. Dogs Bill's size and smaller should be able to squeeze underneath, otherwise you can attempt to untie (and then retie) the gate. 

9. Once you have negotiated the stile carry on towards the farm house at Low Bellmanear - if the gate is tied there could be sheep here. Walk past the pond and the path turns right onto the farm road.

10. Follow this farm road to the end, with The Kelds over on your right. There are a few cattle grids on the way but they are all passible. Eventually you will arrive at Back Lane.

11. From here turn right and walk up the steep road - take a few breathers on your way up - this is the steepest part of the walk though!

 19. Follow the path along the left hand fence line with sparse trees on your left. You will get some fantastic views all around you so do stop and enjoy them as your dog has a romp around (unless there are sheep of course) and also catch your breath.

20. Where there is a gap in the trees and you see a gate down to your left - ignore this and just keep on straight ahead uphill towards the farm house, Wold House. This is a  fairly steep slope with the scraggly trees still on your left - so you might, like us, take a breather here to enjoy the views from a seated position!

21. With Wold House on your right,  find the fence line at the top of this sloped field where you will spot a yellow way marker plus another gate and a stile. The gate is tied shut, but it is possible to go through the fence to the left of it where it joins the other fence line coming up from the left. 

22. Once you have  negotiated  this, walk up straight ahead with the trees on your left and you will come to a stony driveway on which you turn left. This brings you to a road at the top. 

23. Cross straight over the road where you see a public footpath signpost, which takes you to a field.

24. This field may have been completely ploughed and planted, so you may not see the footpath at all - but it is there I promise (if you are lucky someone will have trodden it before you)! So, walk directly across it in a straight line. You can't really see where you are heading to until you are part way across but when you do see the hedge ahead, head for the tree and the hedge running away into the next field.

 31.  At the end of this section is a footpath sign pointing you right along the Wolds way and Centenary Way (as well as left and straight ahead along a bridleway). Our path heads up hill again towards some woodland. 

32. Enter the woods through a wooden kissing gate or the swing gate next to it and follow the obvious path through the trees.

33. The path continues to go up slightly and then comes to another Wolds Way / Centenary Way sign that points you right. 

34. Keep following the path to the next Wolds Way / Centenary Way sign that steers you left. 

35. The path eventually emerges on the road near Settrington Beacon and back at your start. Before you climb back in your car though, make sure you bag the trig point here and take a look at the Beacon point on your way home.

The beacon or signal station is the most spectacular Roman artefact in the Settrington area formerly found on Settrington High Street near the present water tower, which was not demolished until 1831. The beacon was an iron brazier at the end of an arm on the top of a pole (much like the one replacing it today), standing about 650 feet above sea level, it received signals from the fires lit at the signal station in the grounds of the present Scarborough castle and passed them on to the York area. It is said that the area in which the beacon’s light could be seen was some 400 square miles.