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Post 96: 4 January 2017, 1,000 Mile Challenge

After my rather energetic 11 mile walk to the top of the North York Moors yesterday, today was meant to be a relaxing day. After going to bed at 11pm last night I had one of those sleeps where you seem to go to heaven and into a sleep so deep you wake up wondering what world you are in.

This was at 4am and I found myself so awake I got up to make a cup of tea and caught up on various administrative things. Breakfast was at 6am and as we had friends coming round for dinner in the evening there were lots of chores to do, house cleaning etc etc which took me until 11am. The sun was shining outside and I had to walk to the Post Office  a quarter of a mile away to post a copy of my coast to coast guide book to a walker who I had just entered into correspondence with. I decided to take my small radio with headphones as I find music gives me an energy boost when walking.

It was such a nice day that a bit like Forest Gump I just carried on walking.  To my surprise it seemed like summer and the Yorkshire Wolds looked wonderful in the distance. The sun really was quite warm on my face. A vitamin D boost.

I suddenly recalled that this was early January not the summer and previous January’s didn’t seem like this. Where was the frost, snow, ice and cold winds? Yes on the top of the North York Moors you could get that yesterday, but in previous years you got those also in my low lying village.

I decided to look back at photographs from previous years and came across these taken around my village on 7th January 2010, only 3 days later than todays date. We couldn’t go out in the cars due to the road conditions.

Once the roads improved, these were taken in 2010 between 8th and 13th January, only 4 to 9 days later than today.

I note that in December just past, Norway had some of its highest temperatures ever. 18 degrees. Bearing in mind it is the land of Frozen, the film, this suggests global warming is indeed happening.

For walkers in this country it is generally a bonus as the walking year is generally extended, although last year floods prevented much walking particularly in the York area.

But the downside is I miss the dramatic snow scenes…………..

Mileage 4.02

Calories 456

Average Pace 18.0 1 minute per mile 

Fastest Split at 1 mile 15.23 minutes per mile

Maxumum Pace 7.47 minutes per mile

Steps 8,100

 

Post 95: 3 January 2017 Cleveland Circles 12.

With slightly warmer weather today, we arrived at Ingleby Greenhow just below the North York Moors to enable us to start walking at 9.10am. The car was parked opposite St Andrew’s Church, which during renovations in 1905 revealed the remains of Bos Torus, the extinct wild ox.

Our route would lead to Incline Top as shown which used to have wagons of ironstone going up and down it from 1861 until a fire in the Brake Drum House in 1869.

We soon passed the local ‘Stonehenge’ at Low farm, whilst shooting parties headed out onto the grouse moors. .

Little did the grouse suspect what was coming their way, but we soon heard shots.

In its defence the grouse shooting is a huge employer, income generator and finances the management of the moors. I personally would not want to do it but there are arguments in its favour.

The height gain we would need to do soon came into view.

In my view Alan Hinkes, from nearby Northallerton, is Britain’s greatest climber, being the only Briton to have climbed all fourteen of the World’s highest peaks over 8,000 metres. Many have died attempting such a feat. He has proper crampons!

He used to train (and may still do so) on the North York Moors hereabouts in Winter and in the dark with a torch! Such dedication is required to climb Himalayan Peaks, including Everest, K2 and Makalu, shown in the photograph above.

I followed his climbs in awe from the early days. His book is an exciting read and summary of his climbs. He has true ‘Yorkshire Grit’.

Back to more routine matters we had to negotiate some icy lanes. No problem for me as I had my new Kahtoola Microspikes which, later on, at £50 were to prove a bargain for what was to come. Without them Carol and Sid had to try and keep to the grass edges.  

Roesberry Topping was peeping at us again.

The impending height gain was getting nearer.

Fortunately, what appears to be our path through the main white snow wasn’t it!

There was a sideways view of the rail incline with Postman Pat on his rounds in the foreground.

The path steepened and more snow and ice appeared.

My microspikes came into their own as I could ascend much quicker.

At last we reached a reasonably sheltered spot for a banana and muesli bar break, and coffee (with honey) stop.

The sheep were hungry and interested to see what food we had got.

They weren’t impressed with my microspikes, having adapted much better to these harsh conditions than us. Did they know we were wearing New Zealand Merino wool base layers, the best for insulation?

It is at this point I started to think whether I could improve my food intake for more energy.

For breakfast I had grapefruit, porridge with blueberries and cinnamon, Bergen soya and linseed bread (recommended by my son who is a personnel trainer in Derby) with marmalade, but no butter, and tea.

Lunch would consist of a home made multigrain roll with apricot jam (for instant energy), low fat crisps (for salt), low fat yoghurt, Mary Berry’s home made fruit cake and an apple, tea made fresh with coffee mate and honey.

The above has served me well for many years, but if anyone knows better (e.g. Alan Hinkes) please let me know!

Ascending a little further, we came to The Cleveland Way and Wainwright’s Coast to Coast route, which is the equivalent of the North York Moors M6.

Just like some of the roads these days it hadn’t been gritted! Carol looks a bit worried here don’t you think? At one point on the ice I had to grab her arm and steady her like I do with my 93 year old mother and 94 yrs old mother in law!

However, we eventually came to Round Hill on Urra Moor, the highest point of the North York Moors at 454 metres, 1489 feet. We had been climbing for exactly four miles.

Here we could view much of the largest expense of heather moorland in England. Britain is thought to have almost 75% of the World’s remaining heather moorland and much of it was in view before us.

Not surprisingly the path got even more icy, but is was beautiful with the sun shining on us. We were somewhat surprised to see a mountain bike with ‘fat’ tyres pass us.

Even the standing stones seemed to have faces laughing at us. This one is mentioned in 1642 as the ‘bounder called Faceston’. They are believed to be late Bronze Age or early Iron Age.

We were now able to increase our pace along the old railway line to Bloworth Crossing.

What was amazing was that ‘Snow Sleepers’ (my term) had formed based on the old sleepers that had been removed, after closure in 1929. The rate of thawing of the snow as related to where the sleepers had compressed the ground under them. Awesome.

We arrived at Bloworth Crossing

But the last train had departed a bit before us.

We could only find about four sleepers.

It is not a place to linger.

We proceeded to Siberia, which is at Incline Top and was even colder. It was so called by the ironstone railway workers. Wagons full of iron ore went down the incline under gravity and this allowed empty wagons to be pulled back up at the same time.

In the past there were buildings there including the Brake Drum House.

 It was incredibly windy and cold and I have posted separately on Facebook a video I took there.

There are some remains of the buildings.

A little further on we came across Jenny Bradley’s Cross. It is not known who she is. Next to it is a boundary stone marking the Ingleby Estate.

There were also grouse butts hereabouts. No escape for our poor little grouse we saw earlier.

Middlesborough suddenly appeared in the distance lit by the fading sun, with some delightful cloud effects above it.

We were somewhat surprised to see four wheel drive vehicles pass us.

Another standing stone appeared.

Below the small stone on the top was the following message. I wouldn’t want to find it in mist alone on the Moors!

The stone dates from 1757 according to the inscription on the side.

We then started to descend with splendid skies behind us. It is always a good to keep looking behind you on a walk as you might miss something. Or the man might come to take you to the gallows.

The side view wasn’t bad too. I do like winter walking!

We finally dipped our boots in the stream at 3.15pm next to the car and church in order to clean them.  What a splendid walk!

Miles Walk 11.06

Calories Burnt 1,300

Steps taken 24,722

Average Pace 19.389 minutes per mile

Fastest mile split at 10 to 11 miles 18.20 minutes per mile 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Post 94: 2 January 2016, 1,000 Mile Challenge

First of all apologies for those who tried to access my Facebook this afternoon.  This is the second post of the day! My earlier post, started at 4.00am and finished by 6.00am; ‘How to walk four times around the World’ led to Facebook closing my Facebook account due to unusual activity!  I had such a lot of kind comments about the blog and photographs perhaps that may be ‘unusual’ for Facebook. Having only got the ideas for the blog at 4.00am I was overwhelmed by the response to it. I often do my best blogs at 4.00am when there are no distractions!

Thank you for all the kind words and encouragement.

I was nearly brought  to tears by Beata Dobrogoszcz, who said about the blog ‘..this is more than encouragement – this is LIFE’.

She is of course correct – walking has been my life, with other things thrown in such as Love, Marriage, Children, Grandchildren, Work, Retirement, Ups, Downs, Fun, Laughter, Tears, Hard Work, Giving 100%, Trying to be Kind, Trying to Keep Calm. Walking has been very much a constant – where when all else fails go for a walk and if it doesn’t fail still go for a walk. It never ceases to amaze me that each walk can seem as fresh and vibrant as one 20 years ago. So yes I will keep walking and blogging. It has led to so many surprises and no doubt there will be more around the corner, or the next path, or the next hill, or the next river. 

The last blog said I was just going out for a 3 mile walk from home. I got as far as 3 yards and turned back to put my spikes (not my new Microspikes which will be for the more serious stuff on the Moors tomorrow) on and get my trekking poll as it was very, very icy. I noticed the roads were particularly icy and hadn’t been gritted. This was confirmed later on in the day when a Facebook friend’s car slid into a ditch on a quiet country lane. I am not sure whether he has winter tyres on but I would strongly recommend them. Fortunately he was okay. Another friend in the village said that even with winter tyres on he had a slight slip.

Again the cold night was confirmed as our local pond was frozen over.

The light is interesting first thing in the morning. It was difficult to reduce the sun here.

I love lines for perspective. Note it is very flat around my village.

Two of my favourite photographic topics are reflections

and big skies. You can just see the Yorkshire Wolds in the background.

Oh and pleasant ladies on horses add to an enjoyable morning walk!

My mileage using a different route than planned, due to the delightful but cold weather, was:

5.83 Miles

Calories Burnt 662

Steps Taken 11,800

Average Pace 18.21 Minutes per Mile

Fastest Mile Split at 1 mile 17.5 Minutes per mile

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Post 93: 2 January 2016 

After embarking on the Country Walking Magazine 1000 mile walk challenge with a 3 mile walk yesterday it occurred to me that how could this make a difference to me or the other over 10,000 members who have joined this ‘activity’. What would I miss if I hadn’t walked on a regular basis or if I didn’t continue to walk on a regular basis?

I hope you will be inspired to make the effort to do your regular 3 mile or whatever walk….

I am rapidly approaching the young age of 65 this month (my mother will be 94 this month so yes I am quite young really). So I have looked back at my walking experiences since the age of 21. It is not worth looking much before that as I was more into football, tennis, basketball and ‘other’ distractions from walking. A sporting injury at the age of 17 finished impact sports and led to my interest in walking.

The first verified person to walk around the World between 1970-74 was David Kunst who completed 14,450 miles.

I have calculated I have completed about 68,264 miles between the age of 21 and 65. Please note that for most of the years I had a dog and did my 3 mile walk every morning before going to work. (In fact I did more because I did shorter evening walks as well). In the last 10 years or so I have sometimes replaced the 3 mile walk with gym treadmill walking. I have also swam over the last 16 years and in the last 6 months cycled

Here is how the mileage has stacked up to the equivalent of four times around the World. I haven’t included just general walking to the shops, cinema, etc etc.

3 miles x 6 days x 52 weeks x 44 years = 41,184 miles

On the 7th day I would do a longer walk of on average 10 miles. 10 miles x 1 day x 52 weeks x 44 years = 22,880 miles

Annual long distance walks actually completed and recorded between 1990 and 2003 = 1200 miles

Total mileage = 41,184 + 22,880+ 1200 = 68,264

Divide this by 14,450 = 4.7 times around the World. 

If you wonder whether I walk on holiday yes I do. I recently completed 35 miles around a cruise ship! 175 laps of the ship.

Whilst the mileages are estimates they are pretty reliable as dogs don’t give you days off and even when I stopped having dogs (to make it easier to go on holidays and longer walks) I kept doing 3 mile walks through my village to keep me fit for the weekly and long walks.

A walking friend used to say that it was better to remember things we saw on walks in the memory rather than in photographs. Fortunately, I ignored this advice and always took photographs. The memory can fade.

So if I hadn’t walked the photographs below wouldn’t have been taken. They give an example of what I would have missed. If you get out and walk you will have some unexpected surprises.

 

 

 

WELL I MUST DASH I HAVE A 3 MILE WALK TO DO THIS MORNING

Post 92: 30 March 1994: The Cumberland Way, Day 4 – Keswick Youth Hostel to Dockray – 13 miles

At breakfast, we met two delightful French aupairs on a walking holiday. Unfortunately, out of eleven ‘O’ levels taken, French was the one I failed. I suspect the fact that we nicknamed our French teacher ‘Zombie’ and threw paper envelopes during class didn’t help my studies. This morning I was not going to get far in the conversation with my repertoire of:

‘Croissants’ (not on the breakfast menu).

‘Je suis Guillaume’ (my French school name)

‘Qoui’

‘Non’

Dan was able to put his language skills to good use and, after conversing in French for a while, I had to drag him away in order to finish the walk.

After leaving the hostel and walking through Keswick to the lakeside,we climbed to the top of the steep hill, Castle Head where, to our surprise, a Japanese lady was standing alone. She asked us to take her photograph with her camera in front of the dramatic views of Derwent Water and the fells of Cat Bells and Maiden Moor; we duly obliged. It is quite humbling how people from around the world are able to find such beautiful places, but many British people have never seen them, preferring to head for Tenerife, Majorca or Corfu.

We passed the famous Castlerigg Stone Circle, built in 1400BC, consisting of numerous stones, the tallest being about 7 feet high, then enjoyed views of Blencathra, Skiddaw and the Helvellyn range. After descending to the Church of St John’s in the Vale, we rested for lunch in the porch. A large group of ramblers joined us, most of whom were middle-aged women whose packed lunches were too big for them. Dan came into his own as they offered him their spare food. Not one to turn away food, he consumed about seven hard-boiled eggs; this was all very well for the ladies, but they did not have to walk with him. High winds had been forecast.

Leaving the friendly company, we joined the Old Coach Road to Dockray. By this time the winds were horrendous, but not as a result of boiled eggs. Despite the road being several feet wide, we were being blown sideways off it. I managed to take one photograph of Alan leaning into the wind at an angle of about 60 degrees. It was with relief when we eventually dropped down to the village of Dockray, much smaller than I had anticipated. Our bed and breakfast landlady was Irish and delighted in telling us all about the activities of priests in Ireland, some of which would have made excellent copy for the News of The World.

We spent the evening in a quite pub on the other side of the road, for once we did not have Cumberland Sausage.

Post  91:  1  January 2017, 1,000 Mile Challenge

Happy New Year!

Today I started on the Country Walking Magazine Walk 1000 miles 2017 Challenge by completing a three mile walk through my village in the rain. I am fortunate in that once I get through the village I can see the Yorkshire Wolds in the far distance.  However, it was a murky morning and in the past I have had much better views than shown in the above photograph.

So how have I saved £645? Well my off peak gym membership expired yesterday and for various reasons I decided not to renew it:

The 1,000 mile challenge will offset the reduced gym exercise. It is like going full circle as for over 25 years, whilst at work, I used to do the three mile walk every morning through the village in all weathers and in darkness in the winter. My dogs then were fantastic Personal Trainers who never took no for an answer. Now retired and without dogs I can walk it in daylight.

The gym fees have just increased by 14% and my usage has decreased!

My wife and myself acquired Brompton bicycles in the summer and that takes up more time.

We have aged mothers (93 and 94) to visit in the Midlands, which requires a lot of time.

We have a son, daughter and son-in-law and two young grandchildren in the Midlands to visit, who are a delight.

So I will see how it goes. I can always continue swimming on a PAYG basis at my local University.

Rather interestingly through my neighbour, my book and my blog, I have come across a researcher who is using walking as a method of research. Something completely new to me. The blog is at:

https://walkingborders.com

Well worth a look and very interesting.

Miles Walked 3.06

Calories burnt 346

Steps 6161

Average pace 17.43 minutes per mile

Fastest mile split 16.58 in first mile

Maximum pace 13.18 minutes per mile. 

 

 

 

 

Post 90: 31 December 2016

Whilst the World has been in chaos, it has been a good walking year personally, having completed five long-distance walks:

The Samaratan Way

The Wilberforce Way

The Yorkshire Water Way

The Derwent Walk

Fred Olsen Circular on MS Balmoral (many, many laps around the deck!)

I have also started my fifteeth long-distance walk The Cleveland Circles and have completed eleven of the thirty walks it entails.

If reading this on WordPress, all the above can be viewed in my Facebook blog: The Secret Diaries of a Long-distance Walker

Significant memories of 2016 include:

Whilst on The Samaritan Way remembering those less fortunate who do not see a path ahead. If only they had known there is always another path to be found.

Walking The Wilberforce Way and recalling the abolition of slavery.

Whilst walking The Yorkshire Water Way  seeing where our basic requirement for survival comes from, water.

Whilst walking The Derwent Way following a river from its source, a tiny puddle, to a river that can flood homes but also help to keep the countryside replenished and the population drinking.

The friendship and laughs with my walking companions. We do call ourselves The New Last of the Summer Wine. 

So may funny incidents, too many to list here…… you will just have to backtrack on the diaries.

The many amazing views that I have tried to capture in my photographs. Not least the fog in the valley far below us in Bilsdale on our last walk of 2016. What a way to end the year. 

When my legs have given up, I will be able to look at them (my Diaries NOT my legs) and recall wonderful memories.

Always known as bit of a planner, my epitaph is already written:

My Feet and Legs both declined

My Lungs have lost their wind

My Spirit extinct my Teeth decayed

And in the dust my Compass is laid

My Muscles are spent my Energy gone

My Boots are drove my work is done.

However, don’t write me off just yet, plenty more walks are left to do……

So that readers don’t think I am a walking one minded geek, I do some other things with my long suffering wife of 43 years. In August we acquired Brompton Bicycles and have throughly enjoyed that. See the Facebook blog: The Secret Diaries of the Brompton Cycling Family. It is only rumour that we will be in the Tour de France in 2017. Now the Yorkshire Tour 2017 – that is a different matter!

As to the future and 2017 in particular…..

Having seen that cold weather is on its way and my Spikys were not up to the job last Thursday, yesterday I ordered some Kahtoola Microspikes from Tamarack Outdoors and what splendid service  – they arrived today.

 

Now you might say spending £50 on microspikes is a bit extravagant. However, on going to my local farm shop today I met a senior citizen who had slipped on a bank at his home and fallen in a ditch and broken his neck. After a having a neck brace fitted and numerous hospital visits he is getting back on track. In any event I will need the microspikes for my Winter Norway trip.

So for 2017 watch where you are putting your feet and if going out in frost, ice or snow do think about wearing some spikes. Also take a trekking pole as they are great for stability.

Tomorrow I start the 1,000 miles Country Walking Magazine Challenge 2017 but will be happy with a 3 mile walk through my village followed by the Vienna New Years Day concert and by steak (from our local butcher – New Years Day treat), brandy and peppercorn sauce, chips, peas, tomato and mushrooms.

It is amazing where putting one foot in front of the other can lead………………………………

Have a Happy New Year and get those boots on and discover a whole new world……………..

Still time to sign up for the 1,000 mile 2017 challenge and not miss a day………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Post 89. 29 December Cleveland Circles 11

The first thing to say is that I was wrong in my previous post that this post would be in 2017. I was surprised to find that a spare day came up to fit another walk in before the New Year.

The day didn’t start well. I woke up at 4.00am and decided to have a cup of tea and look out of the window to see if the forecasted fog had appeared. It had. However, I looked on the BBC Weather forecast for Chop Gate our planned destination and it was for sunny skies from 9.00am to 3.00pm. On the basis of this I went back to bed until 6.00am.

At 7.30am ‘Sid the Yorkshireman’ and Carol picked me up. There was thick, thick fog. It was very cold and there had been a very hard frost.

This was confirmed when Carol said she had already fallen on her backside just walking to her car.

Heading out from York the fog persisted. It was not until way beyond Helmsley that it lifted and we were presented with some wonderful views of fog below us in the valley.

Hills peeked at us enticingly and the sunrise glowed.

As we reached the car park at Chop Gate we noticed planes were flying way above the fog.

We also noticed the temperature was MINUS FIVE DEGREES.

Dressed in balaclavas to keep out the cold we stopped at the pub for the Three Bucks photograph.

Ascending out of Chop Gate the light was good even if one or two houses were in need of tender love and care.

Looking back the scene was breathtaking. And of course we were out of breath because we were climbing.

I then saw one of the best views I have seen in over 60 years of walking. Bilsdale with a river of fog in it.

So me and my shadow carried on taking photographs whilst Carol struggled up the long hill.

Roseberry Topping, the ‘Yorkshire Matterhorn’, came into view in the far distance.

We were able to look back at the previous Cleveland Circles route.

I had maintained a fast pace to get to the top of the hill and escarpment as I hoped there would be more fog below us on the other side.  However, this was not to be the case. But who could complain about a view like this toward Middlesborough.

And Roseberry Topping.

Smoke signals pointed to our route ahead towards the highest point on the North York Moors.

However, to get there we had lots of ups and downs on paths that were covered in ice. I had my spikys on which helped but Carol didn’t and having had one fall was very careful. They come in various designs. Here are two.

Although an aid on short walks Spikys or Yak Tracks do not last long on these longer walks and it is probably better to get some that are more midway between climbers crampons and the above. Kahtoola micro spikes have recently been recommended to me and I have ordered some.  They are more expensive but should last longer. Later on in the walk I was to find Spikys are not good on mud!

Now on the Cleveland Way National Trail, the Wainstones eventually appeared above us. Another climb due.

Roesberry Topping continued to peep at us.

There were still fantastic views back to Bilsdale.

The Wainstones were eventually reached, some looking a bit likely to drop off!

Our route ahead pointed to more descents and ascents. We promised ourselves lunch on a bench at the bottom of the next descent. It was taking longer than anticipated due to the slippy ice covered paths.

But we could still smile – just.

After a lunch in the sun on a sheltered bench we headed up to Urra Moor. A couple of RAF jets flashed by us. Planes were still flying above the fog. We started to dream about how good it would be to have a flight in one. Coast to Coast in 20 minutes instead of the normal two weeks?

The views continued to be breathtaking.

The view back from whence we had walked.

It was not long after here that I put my foot on some sloping mud and ended up sitting down in the heather with some cramp. This had been a particularly challenging walk with the slippy surfaces. It was ironic that after the ice I slipped on mud as the Spiky’s had little grip.

Eventually with aching muscles we reached better ground and in order to get the mud off the back of my boots I walked backwards through the wet grass. It worked. A new form of boot cleaning after the streams of previous weeks.

What has been a FAB-U-LOUS day was ended at about 3pm with another magnificent view as the fog started to form again as the temperature started to drop.

Mileage Completed 11

Calories Burnt 1,300

Steps 27,108 – this was high as we had to take smaller steps on the icy paths. 

Average pace 19.49 minutes per mile.

Fastest Two Mile Split at 4 to 6 miles 19.12 minutes per mile

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Post 88: 20 December 2016, Cleveland Circles 10. 

After a weekend visit to the beautiful and tranquil Powerscourt Estate and Gardens, near Dublin, the 10th best mansion in the World, the 3rd best gardens in the World  and the highest waterfall (see slideshow below) in Ireland and the UK, today’s walk was to be a complete contrast.

Whilst at Powerscourt, a lady asked me to continue writing my blog as she enjoyed them so much and something always seemed to happen on our walks.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

No pressure then. What could happen on today’s walk on the North York Moors? What, if anything, could live up to Powerscourt?

As we set off at 7.30am heading north to the tiny hamlet of Huthwaite Green things did not look promising. There was mist in the Vale of York and on the tops of the Moors. However, when we got to the tiny hamlet the mist cleared and after a steep ascent onto the escarpment of the Moors the wind started to get up.

We soon passed a boundary stone without injury!

The wind got up even more as can be seen by Carol getting blown off the path.

She soon got back on track.

There was brief stop at the trig point, but as was a high point it was even more windy. Lord Stones Cafe in the valley ahead beckoned.

The prospect of a ‘banana’ stop made Carol very happy at Three Lord’s Stone. It marked the boundary between three old estates of Helmsley, Busby and Whorlton and has prehistoric cup marks engraved in it. Trouble is I had left my banana at home.

After leaving Lord Stones Cafe we passed a memorial stone referring to a walk I did between 2012 and 2016.

We arrived at a viewfinder, seat and memorial to Alec Falconer who was a notable rambler in these parts.

At this point Carol started to take off with the wind behind her. Note the drop a little further on!

Closely followed by me, or was it the cameraman who was taking off?

Is this what Bob Dylan meant by Blowin’ in the Wind?

Eventually we got a grip….

And I felt like Lord Stones!

We then proceeded along our route shown ahead, still being buffeted by the wind.

Stokesley was caught in the sun below us.

Another boundary stone Donna Cross was passed. It is marked E for the Emmerson family of Easeby and F for the Fevershams of Helmsley.

We were starting to wonder about finding a lunch spot, but the cattle had got to this spot first.

Just after leaving Raisdale Mill, we found a tree and wall for a lunch stop away from the wind.

We then dropped down into Scugdale and after some road walking eventually reached the end of a tiring but rewarding walk and the car.

Hope that lady at Powerscourt felt enough happened of interest on this walk! In its own way the high winds certainly elevated us but in a different way to elevation at the beauty and grandeur of Powerscourt!

Miles Walked 10.5

Calories Burnt 1300

Steps 24,901

Average speed 19.08

Fastest 2 mile split 18.48 minutes per mile between 4-6 miles

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Post 87: 15 December 2016, Cleveland Circles 9 

As Christmas gets nearer it gets increasingly difficult to find a free day to walk with Christmas things to do, Christmas lunches to attend, Christmas cards to write and deliver and Christmas presents to deliver etc etc.

So it was with some relief Sid, Carol and myself found a reasonable day weather wise to head out for our next walk starting from Swainby. Leaving Swainby we came across what must be one of the smallest, if not smallest bridge in the world?

 

We then took a diversion to Arncliffe Church and Hall. The latter is a Georgian house designed by John Carr (1754).

Heading back up towards the main route and just up from the church, we passed the house where the World’s Best Mum lives. We did not have the pleasure of meeting her.

We were now on the route of Alfred Wainwright’s Coast to Coast Walk. (See earlier in the diaries 1991). The route is now getting quite well signposted unlike in 1991 when I completed it.

After passing a TV booster station (described by AW as of revolting appearance) we reached an Ordnance Column, which marks the start of the Lyke Wake Walk (described by AW as a symbol of optimism). The end of the Lyke Wake Walk is 40 miles away at Ravenscar and has to be completed in 24 hours. You have to be an optimist or mad to attempt it. Much of the path is through moorland bogs. We are now following AWs Coast to Coast Walk, The Lyke Wake Walk and the Cleveland Way, three notable walks in this area.

A memorial stone to Bill Cowley who ‘created’ the Lyke Wake Walk is passed. A couple of benches nearby provided an excellent lunch stop even though the view was obscured by mist. A robin decided it liked my Mary Berry fruit cake and came quite close.

Arriving at Faceby we were surprised to find Father Christmas in training for his big day. It is no surprise that on his way from Lapland to the UK he stops off in Yorkshire for his last minute fine-tuning for the big day. Who wouldn’t?

After passing the church at Faceby,

we arrived at Whorlton abandoned village, which has an old church, much of it in ruins. The 14th century tower remains.

Further along the lane there was an unexpected medieval castle. It was built in the 12th century as a Norman-motte-and-bailey. The gatehouse as shown is 14th century.

Towards the end of the walk in Swainby we found the ideal boot cleaner, with running water at the correct depth.

Miles Walked 11

Calories Burnt 1010

Average Pace 19.48 minutes per mile

Fastest split 8-10miles 19.01 minutes per mile. 

Steps 25,398