Wednesday, August 3, 2011

Day 15


From Puffers and Puffing to Bay and Beers

Off at 9.30 after a good dinner at the B&B where Steve and Sandra were also staying. The dinner was excellent with good Aussie red with it!
A good breakfast to the sounds of the puffing steam trains and then it was us puffing up a 700’ road hill.

This took us about 30 minutes and was our last major climb for the day and walk.
We dropped into the hamlet of Littlebeck, on the way Don and I nearly stepped on a black adder snoozing on the path. I though I felt a drop of rain so quickly took what precautions I could.

Today was the crowning of the local Orange Queen but we didn’t wait and started off through the Great Wood were we passed the Hermitage a man made hollowed rock and Falling Floss, a 20’ waterfall, where we stopped for morning tea and scones with a few of our new friends – we met up again with Alf and Rachel and Justin here.



I pushed on up the stream as Colin and Don finished their tea/coffee, and soon caught up with Justin again (he was carrying a 30lb pack) and we walked in together over the last 10 miles.
As we exited the woods we could look back over our last 5 miles of walking.

We took the quiet road alternative (to a boggy moor) and got accused of cheating by Rachel because we passed them in doing so (needless to say they actually got lost and didn’t want to admit it.
The wild flowers were in full bloom along this road as we neared our objective.


Finally we went through Hawkser and dropped down to the caravan parks to the sea

 where we joined up again with the Cleveland Way and started the 4 mile walk around the cliffs.

At last we got our first glimpse of Robin Hoods Bay as we passed Rachel and Alf and Mrs Alf who had come to walk the last 2 miles


and soon entered ‘civilization’ again.
Our B&B was en route so I waited there for Don and Colin so we could do the last mile down to the sea together were we duly tossed our St Bee’s pebble into the sea, dipped our toes in the North Sea, signed the book in the Wainwright bar of the Bay Hotel and had a celebratory dinner of, what else, fish, chips and beer.

Another perfect walking day, a bit of cloud and sun, just a few drops of rain but not enough to put on our gear – how lucky we have been.

And to all those who doubted

WE DID THE COAST TO COAST.

Monday, August 1, 2011

Day 14


Curlews, Cricket and Choo choos

9.30 start and we wished the Lion goodbye and started down the road for a mile or so until we met Margery Bradley

Where we cut across the moor to rejoin the road and meet Fat Betty

In so doing missing out on meeting Old and Young Ralph (Don’t ask it’s a sordid story).
A bit more road walking brought us to the turn off to a shooters lodge Trough House –“not as big as mine” muttered Don as he inspected it.

The it was a longish undulating tramp across the moor above Great Fryup Dale, a lovely name but actually named for the Norse Goddess Freya. A few dead moor birds were seen, including curlews and marlins

And we scared up a few grouse.
We also met two guys doing E to W in 7 days (30 mi a day!). Guess who is the odd one out

Eventually out on another road and then the long descent off the moors (at last) down Glaister Rigg

To a lunch stop at Glaister
Where we met up with a group of lads doing coast to coast for charity – Cancer Research UK. They were taking 10 days – well done fellas

With only 4 miles to go I did my usual sprint to the finish, through the woods and down to Egton Bridge where I crossed the Ex on stepping stones, Colin did the more leisurely bridge crossing to give it his seal of approval and met up with Steve and Sandra who we had been meeting up with for the last few days


A final quick walk along the old toll road

A stop to watch the cricket on Grosmont village green

And arrival in Grosmont to watch the steam trains from the pub verandah.


Another great weather day. Cloudy, no rain not too hot.
14 miles today, it seems easy – must be getting fit. Last 15+ miles tomorrow but a nasty hill to start.

Sunday, July 31, 2011

Day 13


More Moors

A short day today (9.5 mi), most of it level on a good track but a bit boring.
After getting a lift from our hotel to where we left off yesterday we had a 700’ climb up to Urra Moor and Round Hill, the highest spot on the Yorkshire Moors.
Good views on the climb back to yesterday’s hasty descent from Hasty Bank and also back along the Track to the top of the Moor.


The heather is starting to bloom giving a light purple sheen to the otherwise featureless moor.

Many marker stones were evident on the side of the trail some with old style graffiti.

After cresting the summit we descended to Bloworth Crossing in the company of Ian a volunteer trail Ranger – no guesses what he and I spoke about; Don of course got his life story other than trail maintenance.

Bloworth is where the Cleveland Trail leaves the C2C (until we rejoin when we reach the coast). From here on we followed the broad gravel trail of the now disused railway that used to run between the iron quarries at Rosedale to Teeside – the last trains ran in 1929 but the trail has been maintained (thanks Ian). It is flat – too flat- and although there are some views down into the Farndale valley and grouse shooting butts for Don to examine, the walking does get a bit monotonous. We stopped for a leisurely lunch



And then it was time for a quick pace so I upped mine to over 3 mph and left the other two in the dust. At last the Lion Inn came into view – our bed for the night – and I was fully ensconced in the beer garden with Simon (last seen at Orton) with a cider by the time Don and Colin arrived.
Another great weather day, a bit windy on the moors but not too hot and no rain again!!


Saturday, July 30, 2011

Day 12


The Cleveland Hills
And North Yorkshire Moors.

I have always liked this section of the trail, sure there are some steepish ups and downs (5 of them) but the walking is easy on a good path and the views fantastic, from the moors ahead and to the south and the farmland set out below to the north, right to the industrial area of Tyneside with glimpses, at last, of the North Sea, our eventual goal.

As we were leaving we saw the Californian couple. She had done her knee in a few days ago and had missed 2 legs but was rejoining again – not an easy leg for a gammy knee.

Then a climb up through Arncliffe Woods with view back over the Mowbray Plain and the last two day’s route.

Once on top we met up with Steven again but he soon left us in the dust.

Down Scarth Moor, losing all the height we had gained, the first of five times this would happen today, then a gentle climb through woods before another steep climb up to Round Hill and Carlton Moor

Over the whole route today we were walking concurrent with the Cleveland Way and the Lyke Wake Walk

Down a steep descent and a leisurely break for lunch at the renowned Lord Stones Café, a favourite with C2Cers.
A steep climb up to Cringle Moor followed

Near the top we stopped to look at the viewpoint and memorial to Alec Falconer who was one of the pioneers of the Cleveland Way

Time for a rest for two old farts

Another steep descent and climb to Kirkby Bank, down again and then up to the Wainstones

With great views north to Great Broughton, our bed for the night and also east to tomorrows initial climb.


I have not said much about the weather in case I angered the rain dogs (and cats?) but today was another gorgeous one, some cloud, some sun, not too hot and no rain. In 12 days of walking we have needed rain gear for one hour in the misty drizzle going around Ennerdale Lake on Day 2. Forecast for tomorrow is also OK with possible rain for the last two days but they are off the hills so few views will be spoilt.