Staithes to Runswick Bay....... and back.

So we are chasing the sun again, and just because we've been wanting to go to the Lakes for ages, it's chucking it down with rain over Cumbria and the sun is shining on the East.  Since I've been hankering after cliffs and beaches n sea, it wasn't so bad, cos I used good ole Google to work out which bit of the North Sea coastline we could get to quickest and from there, we worked out a walk which took us along the coast for a bit, and then back to our starting post through farmland. It looked a good route, and mid morning we set off for Staithes.

I've not been to Staithes before, and I found that motor vehicles are not welcome here. Once you've negotiated your car through the narrow winding roads and down excessively steep hills, you'll find there is nowhere to park it!   So, parking the car at the top, we walked down.  I have to say I was surprised and charmed by the place.  Hidden away in a small bay and sheltered by surrounding cliffs, it is a quaint little town of narrow cobbled streets and winding paths.

After a look around, and despite my desire to stay a little longer, it was time to start our walk.  We took a steep path out of the town and onto the cliff tops to join the Cleveland Way.  We'd definitely made the right decision to come east today, it was a beautiful, bright, sunny and warm day. It almost felt like summer as we walked along.

Breathing that fresh sea air, looking out to the horizon and listening to the wind hushing through the long grasses on the cliffs brings a peace and calmness into busy minds.  As we walked, our thoughts wandered, and a peaceful rhythm settled on us.

Whenever I am out walking, and especially where everything is new,  I try to soak it all up.  I try to force my eyes to take in every detail and capture it to memory, trying hard to take it away with me.  I can't of course, but I keep trying, and my camera clicks away in my bid to make sure I can see it all again whenever I want.

Runswick Bay is as lovely as Staithes, but this time it's the little beach that delights the visitor, and today, there were plenty of them.  We joined them all, walking along the beach, watching dogs chase sticks, children run circles around their parents, and couples paddle happily in the sea.  Yes, it really did feel almost like summer.

Now it was time to turn and start on the route back.  There's a path leading off the beach, up the cliff and on to an old railway line which would start us on our way back to Staithes.  We could see it marked on the map, but we couldn't find it on the ground.   Some of the land at the edge of the beach had been washed away, and we thought this might be the reason we were struggling.  Then Gizmo, the GPS, came to the rescue, by leading us to where the path should be.  It turned out it was hidden behind a bit of wall!
It was also a very wet, very muddy and steep path through woodland.  At times we weren't sure if we were on the path at all.  But once we got to the top and out of the trees, the way ahead was very clear.  And the view was wonderful.

It wasn't long before we reached the disused railway line and followed the local path out across the farmland. Then we found that the OS Map didn't match what was on the ground.  The railway line petered out onto a field, the farmer had obviously cleared away the remains of the enbankment, and the only way we could continue was to cross the field, despite there being no right of way.  We scooted across quickly to the ROW on the other side.  Something to remember for the future.

The next section of the walk along roads and through Hinderwell was uneventful.  Oakrigg Wood on the other hand, with its owl carvings, was very pleasant.

And then, all too soon we were back at the car park, pleasantly tired.  The route measures out a 8.2 miles, with 1200 feet of up. so it's not too difficult, (unless you count the slippery slope upwards).  If we were to do it again though, we'd probably try to find a different way back that didn't include crossing that farmers field.

Mount Grace Priory and Cod Beck Reservoir

OK, so I'm beginning to develop a bit of theme here.  First a ruin, then a walk......   It's not deliberate, honest.  Thing is, that's the way it panned out again.  

As usual, we were chasing the sun, and it was due to stay out and play in the East.  We didn't want to have to drive far, and I worked out this little route which we could easily do in the afternoon. We haven't been to the Priory before, and since it also provided car parking, it was the natural starting point. 

We parked the car and went and had a look around the priory before setting off on the walk.  As you can see, it was another beautiful day. 

Mount Grace House or The Guesthouse which is very nice inside.  I want one!  (I would modernise mine of course).

A recent sculpture of  The Madonna holding Jesus.  I like it. 

What we found really interesting about Mount Grace Priory were the "cells".  The word makes you think of small prison type rooms, but that wasn't the case here at all.  The cells were actually lovely little cottages for one, with a little garden for growing food and herbs, an outside privy, a bedroom, a room for study and worship, and a workshop upstairs.  It didn't look like a bad place to live at all.  The monks lived as hermits and were strictly vegetarian it seems.   All very interesting: English Heritage - Mount Grace Priory,  Britain Express - Mount Grace Priory






After half an hour or so in the Priory, we started our walk just after midday.

Uphill through the woods to join the Cleveland Way at Chapel Wood Farm

The Cleveland Way, just East of Osmotherly.  It's a bit tight mind, single file only. 

I just love the red of the hawthorn berries. 

Fantastic

Peter took this picture and I stole it off him, I love the colour of the bracken. 

This was an unexpected delight.  We didn't know Cod Beck Reservoir was going to look as good as this. 

We sat and ate lunch here, enjoying the bonus of a table and bench in the sun.  Surprisingly it was bitter cold, and sitting still as we were, it didn't take long for us to need hats and gloves.

Our lunch time view.

After lunch we crossed the road for the Reservoir and found the fingerpost for the ROW which would take us through fields and disused quarries back towards the Cleveland Way.  This is not a well used path!  We did end up a little bit all over the place trying to find our way through.   It was worth it to see this tree though:

And to see these colours and sights as we finally found our way out of the quarries. ( I nicked some more of Peter's photo's)

Another brilliant afternoons walk.  It's quite an easy route, with a couple of hills.  6 1/2 miles, 1200ft of up and 3 1/2 hours of truly wonderful sunshine.  No wonder I always have a smile on my face.

What a difference a rail makes.

As you may have noticed by the "More interesting stuff...." links down the right hand side,  I like reading other people's blogs and websites. This is for loads of reasons,  not least because they show me areas and walks that I know nothing about.  This of course leads to me wanting to go and see these places for myself, which then leads to me dragging Peter in whichever direction has taken my fancy this time.  (Not actually true, Peter is always as keen as I am......  after a little bit of pushing)

So this walk is one I ripped off  from Alen's Because they're there....... blog which I very much liked the look of.  Thank you Alen. 

The walk mostly follows a disused railway track around the very lovely valley of Rosedale. (Map on Alen's blog).

We started the walk from the car park just a little south of the Lion Inn.   Following the old railway heading North.

Following an old railway line is easy walking.  It's not boggy, tussocky or uneven, and remains pretty level without steep inclines or descents.  You don't have to concentrate on where you're putting your feet all the time and instead your eyes can soak up the scenery whilst you're walking.  On such a beautiful day, there was loads to soak up.

We have no idea why this little pool of water exists.  Something to do with the railway line I'm sure.  It was crystal clear

Approaching Rosedale Head. As Summer gets ready to handover to Autumn, the colours are wonderful. 

Approaching Reeking Gill .  What a fantastic name

The fantastic thing about Reeking Gill is the enbankment that crosses it. Walkers and cyclists don't have to climb down into the gill and then back up the other side.  You could consider that the countryside would look better without that great bank of earth across the little ravine, and maybe you're right.  But to be honest on today's walk I wasn't really thinking about that, my lazy side was just loving it.

Looking back from Sturdy Bank ( She'll be coming round the mountain when she comes..........)

Just lovely. 

I loved this little ruin.  Such a tiny little building, and I loved the fact the fireplace and chimney were just about intact.  I'm not sure what it was used for.  A signalman perhaps.  There are steps going down to the back of the building as well as a path leading from the front to the railway line.   It all makes you wonder. 

We were now approaching remnants of the ironstone industry and the reason why the railway was built in the first place.  Abandoned Communities. Rosedale  tells the short history.

Calcining kilns set one.  Apparently these didn't work as well as they should, and a different design was tried. 

These huge structures had Peter and I scratching our heads trying to work out what they were.  The English Heritage boards explained that they were kilns used for roasting ironstone to reduce it, (known as calcining).  It was then lighter and easier to take away.

Calcining kilns set two,  a few hundred yards a way from the first.  English Heritage has taken over both sets of  ruins. 

As I said earlier.  The walk follows the railway line around the very lovely Rosedale.  Alen's route then crossed the valley back to Blakey Ridge, although I think you can carry on following the railway route to complete the circle.  We followed Alen's route and descended into Rosedale, past Hill Cottages and the waiting dog (see Only a Rosedale, I give you...), and Craven Garth Farm

Looking back at the remants of an industrial age. 

You can see from all the photographs it was a truly wonderful day. Really sunny and warm. Actually, maybe a little bit too warm, especially on the climb up out of the valley onto Blakey Ridge.
That part of the walk was a little bit of an adventure to be honest.  The bracken had grown high, and neither we, nor the two people walking in front of us, or the three people walking towards us, could work out where the path was.    

Can you see the path...........?  No.........?  Neither could we, but we followed one through that lot anyway. 

We blundered through, and did manage to find something resembling a path.  You can see from the photo that even though seven people had trampled the same invisible path through the bracken,  it remained hidden, ready to defy the next batch of walkers trying to enjoy a simple day out.

Looking back on a beautiful dale at the end of a beautiful day. 

OK, so we got to the top a little bit hot and sticky.  But the whole walk was well worth it, it was a shame for it to come to an end to be honest, but we did have a little treat to make up for it in the shape of a very welcome pint in The Lion Inn.  Considering it's in the middle of nowhere, The Lion Inn is a surprisingly large and well established pub and eatery.  Somewhere to keep in mind for the future.

So a lovely end to a lovely afternoon.  7 ½ miles in record time. The easy walking meant our normally walking speed increased by nearly a third. So that's the difference the rail makes.

New Year, new walks, and the North York Moors in sunshine.

We were both well ready to get out.  All the rain just puts a dampers on everything.  It just ain't cricket when there's is nowt but fogged up glasses and camera lenses, which, even when you've got them clear, reveal that there is nowt to see 'cept dark clouds and more rain.

My usual trick is to keep an eye on the 5 day forecast and watch out for where the sun is gonna make a breakthrough.  Once I've worked out where the best chance is, Peter is tasked with mapping the route, and then, finally the day arrives and we make our escape to what is hopefully dry, blue skies.

And it worked.  New Years Day on the east coast was rain free. Starting at Osmotherley, Peter worked out a nice easy circular route just short of seven miles,.  Even the mud wasn't too much of a hindrance as we walked. .  I love being up on the the top of the moors.  I love the colours of the heather, brown this time of year, against the green of everything else. I love how bleak it can all look.  Wonderful.

Some pictures:

Pine Forests along the Cleveland Way

A microwave station

Microwave Station?  What's one of them then?  Well I looked it up here: Wiki - BT microwave_network, the article suggests that the network is now obsolete, but I think it looks pretty well maintained for an obsolete system.  Plenty for the conspiracy theorists to get their teeth into I'm sure.

We walked on, enjoying the wonderful views and sunshine! 

We sat and enjoyed a steak pie and a coffee about half way round.  The sky was blue, with just a few clouds, and the sun shone bright.  Wind was bitter cold tho'!

Until we got back to Osmotherly.  A lovely, lovely afternoon out. 

I'm going to try and get out again before I leave the pools, puddles, ponds and lakes that cover the fields of England to join Peter on the good ship Marco Polo - (see cruise blog), but if not, this will be my last walking post for a good few weeks, by which time I'll be well ready to sample the damp wet views of England when I come back.  I'm sure.

Cleveland Way Day 3

I feel I need to be fitter and get out more, so I met up with a couple of guys from the Walking Forum.  They were doing the Cleveland Way, and invited me to join them for a day.  (Before we start, I did warn them I was slow!)

Bluebells

It was a brilliant day, maybe not weather wise because it was overcast and cloudy, and the “clag” came down on us once or twice. There is 11 ½ miles and 2500 ft of up on the Cleveland Way Day 3, described as the most difficult day of the total walk.

Cloudy and overcast views across the moors

2500 ft of up actually means five hills.  We were up and down like up and down things.   Hard work for little ole unfit me, but not for my two walking companions, who were very obviously much more used to this sort of thing. 

They were perfect gentlemen though, Andy kept offering to help lighten my rucksack, and they both kept telling me not to worry about me slowing them down. 

Roseberry Topping framed by half a stone circle

I did slow them down though.  At each and every hill they went straight up, I huffed and puffed behind and they waited very patiently at the top.

However, we completed the 11 miles in what was a very, very respectable time for me, (I think it would have been about 6 ¼ hrs, including breaks), and I thoroughly enjoyed it. 

A lovely walk along the edge of Kirby Bank

I found it hard work, but to some extent, that is what gives you a sense of achievement isn’t it?  And I love being out in the open, with the fields, trees, hills and sky all around.

Hill number 4!

A very big thank you to Andy and Chris for letting me slow them down, and for being so nice about it.  They even said I could go along with them again (although I think they were being polite).

Finally, the Wain Stones, the last hill of the walk!