Heading
north east up the road out of Osmotherley I could have turned due north, back
up the trail I left yesterday and retraced my steps to Arncliffe Wood but instead
I carried on a little further then left the road to walk alongside the Cod Beck
Reservoir.
Lots
of people about, some going on their morning walk and others just walking the
dog.
Leaving
the reservoir at Crabdale Beck that feeds into it I was back on the road heading
up through Scarth Wood Moor in the morning sun.
Checking
my GPS for the waypoint where the trail crosses the road.
This
section of the walk picks up the Cleveland
Way, which is a National
Trail; it runs 177 km from Helmsley to the Brigg at Filey, skirting the North York Moors National Park.
But
I’m not going all that way. I just need this easterly part from Osmotherly to
Clay Bank Top before leaving it tomorrow to go further on the North York Moors
Finding
the waypoint and turning east I entered Clain Wood.
 |
| Clain Wood |
This,
was again, a wood where you would expect to see Friar Tuck, although I suspect
it is man made, to a point, as a lot of the trees were in straight lines.
It
was though delightful in the morning sun.
After
some time, I sat on a bench and had a spell, then, as if by magic, the wind
picked up roaring through the treetops and it started to rain.
I kitted up in
my wet weather gear and plodded on.
Within
minutes it all stopped.
I
made my way around Hollin Hill passing a few farms, one selling free-range
eggs. They were obviously not free.
Then,
the long climb up, in the sun, on a flagged path and onto Live Moor.
Still
in full kit halfway up I felt like I was in a pressure cooker I stopped and
stripped back to two layers.
Part
of today’s trail runs along the top of an escarpment, which is at the eastern
end of the North York Moors and in most parts is a well-flagged path underfoot,
dipping slightly to strenuously from one moor to the next.
As
I rise up the flagged path the wind again picks up, I am sweaty, but with this
wind, biting at me, I soon turn cold. So it is back on with the jumper and the
buff around my neck.
With
each step climbed the view to the north opens up before my eyes.
The
patchwork fields dotted with cows and sheep. I can see the city of Middlesbrough
and the chimneystacks and wind turbines in the industrial area of Teesside.
After
dropping down off Live Moor it was again up and onto Carlton Moor, where I
walked for some kilometres in the biting wind, my buff pulled over my head like
a balaclava.
The
reward though for this climb was a glimpse of my final destination, not,
however, for another four days, the North Sea.
I
feel good.
As
I dropped down off Carlton moor the wind died down and I crossed the road and
into the car park of the Lord Stones Café, it was lunchtime.
I
take a break, not going in to buy my lunch instead retrieving an egg and mayo
bun and a pork pie from my pack. These I bought from the local store in
Osmotherly.
Ahead
lay the steep climb of Cringle Moor.
 |
| Looking back to the ridge |
For
me I am heading north to Dromonby Bridge. I have calculated some GPS waypoints
to get me off Cringle Moor.
Down
a calf path past the farms on the low lands and to a track and then the road
that leads to my B&B, a farmhouse, 1km east of Kirkby and the Black Swan
Inn, aptly named Dromonby Bridge Bed and Breakfast.
 |
| Dromonby Bridge B&B |
Making
my way through farm and fields to my B&B in what was now a warm afternoon.
Looking
back over my shoulder at a very large hill, knowing that in the morning I am
going to have to retrace my steps up the escarpment to 480m, I will concern
myself with that tomorrow.
Daily
Stats.
Distance
15.8km
Assent
490m
Descent
592m
Time
out 4h 19m
Stopped
0h 49m
Moving
average 4.5km per hour
Weather
8 to16, overcast some rain, occasional sun.
Note.
GPS lost reception and re started the track, so two graphs for todays walk.
No comments:
Post a Comment