Post 138: 17 April 2017, Cleveland Circles 26
We left York with low expectations at 7.30am on a Bank Holiday Monday as the forecast was for cloud and some rain. The roads were completely empty of traffic at this time and on this day, which meant we had a good journey along the A64 to Burniston, north of Scarborough, the start of our walk. The skies were blue and the sun was out.
After walking along the dismantled railway line to Cloughton we walked through some pleasant largely unexplored countryside for several miles. No other walkers were seen.
We stopped in a quiet pleasant woodland for coffee and homemade Mary Berry Simnel cake. A real energy boost!
The first notable location of interest were some standing stones at Rigg Farm. Our guide book said this was the property of Anne Tiffany who had given permission for Cleveland Circles walkers to cross her farmland in order to view this ancient monument. This small stone circle is believed to have dated from the Late Neolithic to the Bronze Age (about 2400-1000BC). It is believed that it was a focus for burial rites.
There were originally 24 earth fast stones, but now there are only 15.
As we walked near the farm, the farmer Chris Chapman came out to greet us. His wife Anne Tiffany (she kept her own name) had passed away a number of years ago and didn’t want to be buried at the stones. Instead she was laid to rest alongside the drive from the farmhouse in a modest grave, which was her wish. He was more than happy to allow walkers to continue visiting the site of the stones.
Leaving the A171 we entered some tricky woods to descend to Cloughton Moor House.
Following a track, great views towards the sea appeared. Still no other walkers
We were surprised to come across a lonesome post box, nowhere near any particular village.
We eventually reached the coast near Hayburn Wyke for stunning views, many of them looking back. It was around here that my batteries on my mobile phone expired and my Map My Walk app stopped working. Maybe I hadn’t fully charged it the night before.
Views forward were stunning too, including Scarborough Castle in the distance. Other walkers were seen on this section of The Cleveland Way.
Then we came across a long awaited bench for lunch with a fabulous panoramic view in the sun. It doesn’t get much better than this, especially when we had expected rain. Clouds were forming over land, but not where we were on the coast.
Thank you for the life of Ann Hazell and for the bench.
We continued to Cloughton Wyke.
With explosions of colour.
And again great views back. I sometimes think I should walk backwards.
We passed the Long Nab Coastguard Station now a bird-watching hide.
Scarborough Castle was getting nearer.
We arrived at Crook Ness where there is a fine information board. Sid the Yorkshireman points out that it was partly paid for by EU money. Or is that our money we give to the EU who then hand it back to us?
On that note it was a short walk back to the car and the end of a fine walk. We had hardly seen any traffic or walkers and had truly ‘got away from it all on a Bank Holiday‘.
Taking the ‘country route’ back to York, disaster then struck as the ice-cream and cider shop (see previous blog) at Hackness was closed. We had to settle for buying our eggs from a farm.
Miles Walked 12
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