Post 136: 2 April 2017, Cleveland Circles 24
With a great forecast for the day we were surprised to encounter drizzle as we headed across the moors to Ravenscar to arrive at about 9.00am. It was a bit cloudy and cold when we started putting our boots on. As we ascended the first hill we could just see Robin Hood’s Bay in the distance.
After some moorland walking we arrived at Cook House to find a fairly unique collection of anvils.
Also a clever adaptation of a telephone box for storing of wood.
And a knight in armour.
The mottled lambs hereabouts were very cute.
We then entered a delightful woodland area and a deer ran across our path. It was too quick to capture on camera.
We then arrived at Ramsdale Mill Farm. It is believed that there has been a mill at this site since 11th century. The present mill was commissioned in 2003 and is intended to provide hydro-electric power.
The views towards the coast from the track leading away from the mill are superb. Ravenscar where we started can be seen on the farthest hill.
We were heading towards Boggle Hole for lunch on the beach. Before that we passed Fylingthorpe Public School and soon after the path enters the garden of someones house at Sunnyside. There is a dog that barks and if you are lucky the owner of the property comes out and is more than happy to have a chat and explain about the history of the area. She has lived there since 1948 and her Aunt formed the school. She will tell you about the history of the school and about how the water supply to her house has been somewhat intermittent in the past and not always pristine pure having come from springs higher up. There is also a barn which had its roof raised from the original thatch and she will take you inside to show you where the roof was originally.
We descended down to the Cleveland Way path.
At Boggle Hole there is a Youth Hostel, which used to be a former corn mill and it is possible to obtain refreshments there. In the past it was a haven for smugglers.
After a steep climb out of the valley we resumed our walk along the Cleveland Way. It was essential to keep looking back towards great views in the direction of Robin Hood’s Bay.
However, the views forward are superb too, showing a wave cut platform. It is the remains of a huge dome structure centred on the bay. The sea has eroded the structure to reveal the layered rock. This area is of international importance for fossil records with more than 250 species of fossils being identified from 600 beds.
We arrived at the remains of the Alum Works. Quarrying started in 1650 and continued until 1850. In its peak in 1768 over one hundred thousand tons of rock a year were dug out by pick axe and moved in wheelbarrows along the manufacturing line!
Here we found a slow worm.
The final section of the walk is a fairly unrelenting climb. Just before we got back to the car we passed a tunnel, which which was built to divert trains away from the nearby hotel. The tunnel diversion cost £500. The railway from Robin Hood’s Bay was opened in 1885.
Miles Walked 11.22
Calories Burnt 1300
Steps 23,600
Average Pace 19.26 Minutes per Mile.
Fatest Split at 8-10 Miles, 18.58 Minutes per Mile.
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