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Preston-under-Scar is a village near Leyburn in Wensleydale, a line of houses on an elevated contour on the south-facing flank of the valley where the valley is wide.

Jackdaws slid down into lower mists, a roofer hacked at a cold chimney, we took a pasture into a wood of birch and the natural pleasures of twisting streams, fresh honeysuckle and banks of tough sedge.

Within a minute or two the interest is manmade. Stonework arches over a lead mine entrance. Also stone the broken line of an 18th century flue channel that’s the longest in Yorkshire, hugging the ground for two miles, to take the toxic lead fumes to the top of the moors. Nearby, at the southern edge of the wood, are a semi-subterranean steam engine house and a 70 foot chimney. This mine could yield over a thousand tons of lead a year, the chimney is writhed by ivy, the scene is gothic child-swallowing spooky.

We crossed the local railway line and onto the lower slopes of the valley to a huge parkland pasture. Around the edge is a gallop and two racehorse thundered by. Penhill was in cloud. A driveway took us to a fancy gatehouse and to Wensley and its Three Horseshoes Inn. Romantics have other options here. Either sandwiches in the memorial garden to the splash of a waterfall. Or visit The White Rose Candle Workshop where there are dipping machines involving bicycle wheels. But wax is heavy and some candles are fragile, so we retired to the aforementioned inn where the beer is from the Wensleydale Brewery and the wafts from lunches made me regret my sandwiches.

Set up, we had a peek at the church, gazed at the wide River Ure from Wensley Bridge and set off along the riverside. The water sparkled for the mile, the banks flowered with violets, wood anemones and primrose.

Then we had to cross the river and the only way is Lords Bridge. So imagine our concern at a tree trunk barring the way and on it a sign reading ‘No unauthorised persons beyond this point’. Don’t worry, the trunk is to stop cars. The mid pier of the bridge took a recent ‘hit’, but Lord Bolton says that his bridge is ‘perfectly safe’, it’s fine for you to walk over it, though he thought perhaps ‘not if the river in flood’, and anyway at ‘your own risk’. He adds ‘enjoy yourself’.

We did, strolled through the parkland, a soft spring light on the 40 windows of Bolton Hall, the daffodils ablaze. When you’re past the hall and the estate yards it’s eyes right for an interesting stone barn. Then, nearly done, look left and right at the railway line. We thought was that a loco hoot? Don’t ear to rail cowboy style. Another hoot, louder and eventually a Wensleydale Railway train made slow and stately procession. The company has 17 miles of track, their slogan is ‘Great Service, Great Scenery!’ Most useful for linear walks. A good day rescued, thanks for Lords Bridge your Lordship.