Beyond Boundaries Farm visit

Highland calves by Margaret Grant

These pictures were taken in Commondale where we went to a Open Farm Day. The walk on the bridleway between Danby and Commondale is easy going and full of beautiful vistas (the esk valley train line runs alongside the path).

Beyond Boundaries was previously called Fowl Green Farm. Find out more about Beyond Boundaries on their Facebook page.

It was a lovely sunny day and we met a group of young people en route taking part in a Duke of Edinburgh award re map reading skills and had a chat about the area in general. We walked further along and a train went by towards Whitby before we found an ideal seat on which to have our lunch! The views were amazing. When we got nearer to the farm we came across a number of amusing scarecrows which pointed the way towards various points of interest, i.e. crops that were growing, a little area of accessible woodland with picnic benches and these beautiful young animals which we were encouraged to ‘comb’ – an experience which I enjoyed, although my friend declined the offer! When we reached the farm we spent the rest of the day watching sheep being sheared and then the wool being spun, enjoying home made cakes and tea, before catching the esk valley train back to Danby and riding home on the M11 Moorsbus to Guisborough.

This year due to the closure of the Moorsbus we can access this event using the Esk Valley train from Middlesbrough, alighting at Castleton and walking to Commondale, again catching the train back. All is not lost!