by Martin Blick Nov 2019
This is a 3.5 km stretch of old railway embankment running East-West and extending from the Western corner of the Pine Hills estate in Guisborough to the existing railway line, to the East of Nunthorpe.
Grid refs for each end are NZ592148 and NZ557147. The easiest access point is the car park at what was Pinchinthorpe railway station (current cost £1 for 2 hrs) NZ 584152, but the walkway can be accessed from either end, following existing footpaths.
As is generally the case with abandoned railway lines, it is flat, easy walking with numerous trees, principally hawthorns along most of its edge. The Guisborough end is more wooded, skirting along the edge of Bousdale woods, and also has several small ponds beside it and a feeding station that is operational in winter.
This is one of the more reliable spots for Willow Tit in Cleveland, with 2 pairs located during the national 2019 survey and a third pair on the feeding station early in the same year.
The feeding station can be quite productive at times with Marsh and Willow Tits, Siskin, Brambling, Nuthatch and Great Spotted Woodpecker. The nearby ponds have been known to hold Kingfisher.
The majority of the walkway is to the West of Pinchinthorpe station and goes through farmland and several small copses. Birds seen here include Yellowhammer, Nuthatch, Little Owl, Buzzard, and Short-eared Owl.
Both Corncrake and Quail have been heard in the adjacent fields on numerous occasions over the last 20-30 years, although this is generally at night.