Some notes:
1) The offroad route to Neasham is definitely shorter but probably no quicker than the road. Especially when they've just ploughed the field and large rocks have been turned into the bridleway.
2) The Nelson is still the best pub in Appleton Wiske (but the crap one does food - I recommend the scampi, but the gammon looked very good)
3) It's farther than you think to the station at Allens West. Luckily, the train was delayed by a couple of minutes, and I was at the correct side of the level crossing to nip along the footpath and onto the train, saving myself the drag back along the A67.
I don't think I'll be out next week, but I'll be around the week after, I reckon.