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Today's Walk 23rd May 2008: Osmotherley (GR 457973) to Clay Bank Top (GR 573036). 11.5 miles with 2,500 feet of ascent. Map: Explorer OL26 North York Moors, Western Area. Weather: A bright dry day. |
Having left Osmotherley we've made our first climb of the day onto Beacon Hill. Looking in to the centre of this panoramic view we can see Carlton Moor. I tell Christopher that when we descend from it we'll be having our lunch stop. |
This is the best days walking so far and arguably the best the Cleveland Hills offer. We're very fortunate that the weather God's have smiled on us. I'm including a link here to a song/video by local singer/songwriter Vin Garbutt. It was written in the early 1970's about Teesside, a large industrial area only a handful of miles from here. Heavy industry might not be pretty (although I like industrial landscapes) and the river Tees was certainly very polluted back then, but as the song points out here on the Cleveland Hills just a few miles away is surely some of the finest scenery in the country. The Valley of Tees. |
Bluebells in the shaded Clain wood. |
After a sharpish climb we arrive here on Live moor and Carlton moor is now much closer to us. I can see our first sighting of the distinctive Roseberry Topping in the distance. As we make our way up onto Carlton Moor we pass it's gliding club on our right. |
Roseberry Topping seen between the trig point and an earlier marker post. Roseberry's a climb we'll encounter a couple of days ahead so I turn my thoughts back to today's walk and in particular our lunch stop which we'll be having as soon as we descend to the road below here. |
The Lord Stones Cafe (GR 522029) a welcome and popular stopping place for walkers, bicyclists and motorists alike. Hot and cold food and drinks. One draught (smoothflow - yuk!) beer available. Very reasonable prices. A fire inside for colder days. |
Meal break over and it's back to the walk with an immediate steady climb up onto Cringle moor. |
Christopher at the memorial topograph and seat at Cringle End. The paved path shows our way towards the summit of Cringle Moor at Drake Howe (a tumulus/burial mound of which there are lots on the North York Moors. This one is at 1,417 feet above sea level). |
Below us is the 'Jet miners' track', passing a numberof old jet and alum workings. Ahead the further two climbs we still have to make today and on the skyline, running from left to right, the ridge we'll be walking along tomorrow. |
Looking back along the paved path to the memorial seat and below that to the fields which resemble a giant patchwork quilt. |
Just 0.5 mile off the route is our stop over point for tonight 'Beakhills Farm', Cringle Moor, Chop Gate, although we're not going there directly as our walk today finishes a couple of miles further on. We wanted to see a small working farm at the sharp end of the industry. No frills but we didn't expect them. We booked in for evening meal, b&b and a packed lunch the following day. The food was good plain homecooking, the 'crack' (chat) was friendly and the whole package was at a real budget price. Shared facilities. See my Links for contact details. |
Cold Moor summit to Hasty Bank and the Wainstones |
Christopher descending off Cold Moor. The path then continues up to the Wainstones and Hasty Bank. |
Looking back from the Wainstone rocks nearest the footpath. There is a short scramble to the top. The Wainstones are popular with climbers. |
The end of today's walk is in sight. In the centre of the photo I can see two cars in the Clay Bank car park, one of them is mine and I'm looking forward to reaching it and taking my boots off. |
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Photographer and copyright owner - Terry Smith 2008. |
Like Folk/Roots music? Then watch the video 'Country Life' by Show of Hands - and if they're ever appearing at a venue near you go and see them, they're great live. |