Walking around Osmotherley and the Cleveland Hills: Walking in North Yorkshire Guidebooks: Trailguides publish Running, Walking and Mountain Biking Guides to Northumberland, Durham and North Yorkshire. WALK 1: MOUNT GRACE PRIORY Situated slightly to the north west of Osmotherley lies Mount Grace Priory, the finest surviving example in the country of a monastery of the Carthusian order. Now owned by the National Trust and managed by English Heritage, the site is open to visitors and makes an ideal subject for a walk. DISTANCE: 2.5 mile / 4 km. ASCENT: 515 feet / 157 metres. TERRAIN: The route is mainly field paths and tracks with a section going through the woods surrounding the Priory. In places the path may be a bit soft and muddy. There is a steady climb back up out of the woods after visiting the Priory. START: The Market Cross, Osmotherley. GR SE 456 972. TIME: For the walk itself, allow 1 to 1½ hours.

However, if you do visit the Priory then you can quite happily add another 2/3 hours, dependent upon how much time you spend exploring the site. DOGS: As the route is on rights of way then dogs are allowed. Unfortunately they are not allowed into Mount Grace Priory itself. ACCESS: This route is all on public rights of way. Grading is T4 [ D0, N1, T0, R1, H2] WALK 2: THE STONES OF THIMBLEBY MOOR In the last walk we visited a site of major religious significance dating back to the Middle Ages. On this walk you will visit another site of possible religious significance but this one being much, much older dating back to man's very early days on the moors. Located on the northern end of the Hambleton Hills, Thimbleby Moor is a relatively small area of enclosed moorland covered with deep heather. The land rises to an area of higher ground hidden within the forestry plantations of Silton. Near to this high point is a group of standing stones known as the Nine Stones. However, further down the slope towards Oak Dale lie a number of cup and ring marked stones.

Unfortunately all but one lie on private land and are not readily accessible. But the one that is, is arguably one of the best examples of rock art found on the North York Moors. DISTANCE: 3.1 mile / 5 km. ASCENT: 217 feet / 66 metres. START: Square Corner parking space on the moorland road from Osmotherley to Hornby. GR SE 479 959. TIME: For the walk itself, allow 1½ to 2 hours. However, you can easily add on at least another hour dependent upon how much time you spend exploring the two sites. TERRAIN: The first part of this walk is along a decent moorland vehicle track. The second part is totally the opposite involving a walk uphill across pathless moor complete with heather bashing and avoiding the odd "boggy bit". The climbing, although over rough ground which always makes it harder, is more long and steady rather than steep. ACCESS: This route is all on open access land. DOGS: Not allowed on the access land.

Grading is F5 [ D0, N1, T2, R2, H0] WALK 3: ARNSGILL & COW RIDGE A walk that follows two ridge lines across the moors and on the way discovers a mysterious prehistoric settlement full of stone cairns, over three hundred of them laid out over the side of the hill. DISTANCE: 5.6 mile / 9 km ASCENT: 755 feet / 230 metres TERRAIN: Well-surfaced moorland tracks throughout with a short section of road walking both at the start and towards the end of the walk. There are two main climbs on this walk although neither of them are particularly steep, more long and slow. TIME: 3½ to 4 hours. START: Small roadside car park at Low Locker Moor next to the bridge over the River Rye on the road from Osmotherley to Hawnby. GR SE 511 944. DOGS: As the route is all on public rights of way then dogs are allowed although they should be kept under close control. Livestock, mainly sheep, will be encountered throughout the route.

There is a lengthy road section at the end of the walk. ACCESS: The route is all on public rights of way. However, if you do explore the old field system on the descent from Iron Howe then you will leave the right of way and will be on access land. Grading is F4 [ D0, N1, T0, R1, H2] WALK 4: LADY'S CHAPEL & THE HAMBLETON DROVE ROAD This is a walk that follows the hills northwards from Osmotherley and takes the opportunity to visit Lady's Chapel. Closely linked with Mount Grace Priory, the Chapel is one of the earliest religious houses established in this part of the North York Moors and, surprisingly, is still in regular use. The walk then continues through the woodland bordering the edge of the escarpment before descending over open moorland to the glacial channel of Scarth Nick before following the Hambleton Drove Road back towards Osmotherley.

DISTANCE: 5.9 mile / 9.4 km ASCENT: 768 feet / 234 metres TERRAIN: Mainly field and moorland path and track with a short section of road walking. A section of the track climbing up from Cod Beck is badly eroded but otherwise the tracks have a fairly good walking surface. Most of the climbs are gradual although the climb up the eroded section from Cod Beck is quite steep. TIME: 3½ to 4 hours. START: The Market Cross, Osmotherley. GR SE 456 972. ACCESS: Public rights of way are used for most of this walk. However, a short stretch of permissive path is used to link Lady's Chapel with the Cleveland Way but this does not imply that this is or ever will be a right of way and at certain times access may be blocked. If you are uncertain about using this section then you can easily retrace your steps back from Lady's Chapel to the Cleveland Way and then follow that until you re-join the route proper. DOGS: Are allowed on the rights of way.

The permissive section is used by local dog walkers, however, please keep your dog under close control when on this section. Livestock may be encountered at various points during this walk. FGS GRADING Grading is T4 [ D0, N1, T0, R1, H2] WALK 5: THIMBLEBY BANK & SILTON FOREST A walk that can be very easily classified as a woodland walk as the bulk of it's distance is under the canopy of the trees. Although you do touch the open moor, it is only a brief touch which for a walk around Osmotherley makes a very pleasant change. DISTANCE: 7.5 mile / 12 km ASCENT: 1,273 feet / 388 metres TERRAIN: Mainly woodland path or track. The outward leg follows a path that climbs up through the woods and plantations that line Thimbleby Bank while the return follows forest tracks through Silton Forest. The paths on Thimbleby Bank can, in places, be muddy and slippery and the descent into Oak Dale is both steep and rocky due to the path being badly eroded. Care needs to be taken on this section.

Part of this route does utilise quiet country roads from the forest to the village of Over Silton. There is a steady climb on flagged stone path out of Oak Dale up to the moor at Square Corner. TIME: 4 to 4½ hours. START: Small roadside parking space at the bottom of Sandpit Lane. This lies on the southern side of Thimbleby, on the left side of the road as you exit the village. GR SE 448 952. DOGS: As the route is all on rights of way then dogs are allowed but do keep them under close control. Be aware that this walk starts close to the Thimbleby Shooting Ground and if there is any shooting going on, then the sound of it can be heard very clearly at the start and finish of the walk. If your dog is nervous of loud bangs and noises then this may make this walk a little awkward. ACCESS: The route is all on public rights of way. Grading is F5 [ D1, N1, T0, R1, H2] WALK 6: ABOVE THE COD BECK The Cod Beck rises to the north of Osmotherley, formed by the joining of moorland streams.

Unusually it then flows north to south forming a small valley that in some ways cuts Osmotherley, situated on it's ridge, off from the main escarpment of the moors before it makes it's way out into the Vale of Mowbray, flowing through Thirsk and, ultimately, joining the River Swale at Topcliffe. The name Cod Beck probably comes from the Celtic word “coed” meaning woody and would have described the nature of the valley in days past. This walk crosses from Osmotherley over to the eastern side of this valley before taking a circular route above the valley and up onto the moors where the beck is formed and then returning back down the western side to the village. DISTANCE: 4.3 mile / 6.9 km ASCENT: 653 feet / 199 metres START: Osmotherley Market Cross. GR SE 456 972 TERRAIN: A real mixture of terrain underfoot on this walk. Initially the walk follows field paths before joining an ancient lane running along the eastern slopes of the Cod Beck valley.

Woodland tracks and paths are then followed as you circle round the Cod Beck Reservoir before climbing up a well-trodden moorland path on the western side of the valley. The last section of the walk follows a green track and tarmac lane back down to Osmotherley. The route can be quite muddy in places especially the walled lane passing the farm of Rocky Plain and you do have to use stepping stones to cross the Cod Beck at the top end of the Reservoir, although at times of high water there is a footbridge across a little bit higher up the stream. There are two main climbs on the walk which can be considered to be more steady rather than particularly steep. TIME: 3 to 3½ hours. ACCESS: The route is all on public rights of way with the exception of the stretch from the road next to the Cod Beck up the side of the hill to join the Cleveland Way. However, as this stretch forms part of the Lyke Wake Walk it is quite well-trodden and defined. DOGS: Allowed although keep them under close control. There is a strong probability that you will encounter cattle in the walled lane adjacent to Rocky Plain Farm.

Grading is T4 [ D0, N1, T0, R1, H2] WALK 7: MILEY PIKE & HOLY WELL GILL The heather clad expanse of the North York Moors is nowadays very closely associated with grouse shooting. Although hunting and shooting have always happened on the moors it was during the Victorian era that grouse shooting really developed. Shooting grouse had been popular with the upper classes since the 1820's but became increasingly fashionable from 1852 onwards. At this time the Balmoral Estate in Scotland was bought by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert and their trips north brought about a craze for all things “Highland”. This included grouse shooting, Prince Albert was an avid hunter and would go shooting every morning during his stays at the castle. This passion for the grouse caught on with the wealthy English landowners and the weekend shooting party became a feature of many country estates. For a rich and privileged elite the provision of what we would now call the infrastructure for supporting this pastime, such as shooting lodges, access tracks, grouse butts, etc., was easily enough provided.

This walk takes you away from the public rights of way and runs along the light and airy ridges that lie just in from the escarpment edge. Here, high above the source of the River Rye you'll discover the remnants of the heyday of the Victorian shooting parties. DISTANCE: 6.6 mile / 10.5 km. ASCENT: 482 feet / 147 metres. TERRAIN: The bulk of the route uses moorland tracks with steady gradual climbs. However, there is a short section of a couple of hundred metres in the middle of the walk, where the track ends and you have to make your way across open country to join a narrow path that, ultimately, joins another track. During this "rough" stretch you do have to make a descent through bracken to the side of a stream, in the height of summer this bracken may be shoulder high making it a little bit difficult to see your footing. TIME: 3½ to 4 hours. START: Square Corner parking space above Osmotherley, on the Osmotherley to Hawnby road. GR SE 479 959.

DOGS: Not allowed on the access land. ACCESS: Most of this route utilises the access land that runs over Osmotherley Moor. It is only in the closing stages when you are following the Hambleton Drove Road that public rights of way are used. Many of these tracks have grouse butts lying alongside or close to them which means that during the grouse shooting season, and in particular August, then it might be better to only use this route on a Sunday. Grading is F4 [ D1, N1, T0, R2, H0] WALK 8: A CIRCUIT OF BLACK HAMBLETON The mass of Black Hambleton rears itself up on the moors behind Osmotherley. Standing at 399 metres (1,312 feet) this is the highest of the Hambleton Hills and it's shoulder is crossed by a section of the old drove road which at this point also forms part of the Cleveland Way. This walk does a circuit of this hill and on it's way visits one of the many prehistoric settlements that lie on this part of the North York Moors.

As a final "treat" there is an option of an out and back visit to the trig point standing on the high point of this sprawling hill. DISTANCE: 6.4 mile / 10.3 km ASCENT: 830 feet / 253 metres START: Square Corner parking space above Osmotherley, on the Osmotherley to Hawnby road. GR SE 479 959. TIME: 3½ to 4 hours. TERRAIN: The bulk of this walk is on tracks across the moor although there is a section using field and moorland paths which, at certain times, can be wet and muddy. If you explore the remains of the prehistoric settlement then you will be walking off the path through the heather. The climb up from the side of the valley to the moor on top of Black Hambleton is long and in some sections quite steep. ACCESS: The first section of the walk uses public rights of way but from then on the route follows paths and tracks over access land until the Cleveland Way is reached at the Hambleton Drove Road. DOGS: Not allowed on the access land.

Grading is F6 [ D1, N1, T0, R2, H2] WALK 9: A STROLL OVER TO THORODALE Osmotherley lies at the point where the Cleveland Hills meet the gentler, rolling Hambleton Hills. Unlike the more northern hills, those of the Hambletons are built on a bed of limestone and this well-drained rock gives rise to a thin but fertile brown soil which in many places supports a natural, pastoral farmland even on the higher slopes. This walk starts just a little to the south of Osmotherley, at the small village of Kepwick and presents just a small example of the glorious walking that the Hambleton Hills can offer. Along the way it also takes the opportunity to explore artefacts from three ages in the development of man, the Neolithic, the Bronze Age and the Iron Age. Time periods in which humans left an indelible mark on the landscape of these moors.

DISTANCE: 8.4 mile (13.5 km) ASCENT: 896 feet (273 metres) TERRAIN: A complete mix ranging from field path and track, forest path and track to moorland path and tracks. There is even a section of walking across rough open moorland when exploring the long barrow. There is one long climb at the beginning of the walk that can be steep in places as it goes up an eroded gully. Later on your steps are retraced back down this gully. There is one section that passes through an area of scrubby woodland that is always wet and muddy no matter what time of year that you use it. TIME: 4¾ to 5¼ hours START: Kepwick. The small car park next to the church as you approach the village from the west. GR SE 467 909. DOGS: Allowed on the public rights of way although keep them under close control. Sheep will be encountered throughout most of this route.

ACCESS: The route is all on public rights of way with the exception of when you are exploring the long barrow, trig point and tumuli on Little Moor and here you are on public access land. Grading is F5 [ D1, N1, T1, R1, H1] What do our customers think about this guide? Strider Newsletter of the Long Distance Walkers Association. April 2015. says: Keven Shevels is well known to readers of walking literature and his informative, easy to read style has received favourable reviews in the local and national press. He has previously described many routes through the North Pennines but for this publication he returns to one of his favourite areasï¿½ -ï¿½ and I must add one of mine tooï¿½ -ï¿½ the North York Moors. Apparently, this is the first of a number of books he is planning on the Moors and here he explores routes in the area surrounding Osmotherley, a picturesque village comprised of stone built cottages, with the Cleveland Hills to the north and the Hambleton Hills to the south. The village is surrounded by moors and pastureland.

As with much of the North York Moors, the area around Osmotherley can provide fascinating glimpses of the distant past. Settled over 4,000 years ago in the Neolithic age, it was in the succeeding Bronze Age, when the climate was much milder than it is today, that the moors were principally settled. The importance of the village to walking is highlighted by Keven; The Cleveland Way passes right through the village, Wainwrightï¿½s Coast to Coast starts its climb up onto the North York Moors nearby and the Moorï¿½s own 42 mile long distance walk, the Lyke Wake Walk, starts at Cod Beck Reservoir, just outside the village. Any walker who has enjoyed these three walks and, may I say, particularly the annual Osmotherley Phoenix Challenge Event, will find this book a riveting read. The book is a pleasant mix of walks in diverse landscapes (woods, hills and moors) around Osmotherley, with comments on terrain, difficulty, anticipated timescale and local diversions. Each walk is graded according to the Ferguson Grading System (FGS) to allow the walker to assess its difficulty.

The book provides a fully detailed Appendix which explains this system. The nine walks range between 2.5 to 8.4 miles and leave plenty of time to explore the delights of this area. Several walks start from the village itself, others from Square Corner, Thimbleby, Kepwick and Locker Low Moor. The authorï¿½s passion for history and how this is reflected in the landscape is shown within the walks. Many of the artefacts on the moors (rock art, boundary stones, crosses, barrows etc) are described succinctly, with enthusiasm and keep the readerï¿½s interest. The many photographs fully illustrate the features of the walks. Review on Amazon. August 2014. says: Well done to the author Keven Shevels for writing this. Living in Northallerton and regularly walking the dogs at Osmotherley, we wander aimlessly. This book is a godsend and can direct on some really nice proper walks. Much needed. Thank you again. Related Guides THE LYKE WAKE WALK. THE LYKE WAKE CLUB. NORTH YORKSHIRE MOORS. WALKING. HIKING. ENGLAND. OSMOTHERLEY.

RAVENSCAR. LYKE WAKE WALK The Lyke Wake Walk is the forty mile crossing of the North Yorkshire Moors from Scarth Wood Moor, Osmotherley to the coast at Ravenscar, which has to be completed in twenty four hours for membership of theLyke Wake Club. For all practical purposes the walk starts from the car park at the eastern end of the reservoir, the first past the cattle grid from Osmotherly (O.S. ref.-SE468993) and finishes at Beacon Howe (O.S. ref -NZ969012) or vice versa. SECTION 1 : SHEEPWASH TO CLAY BANK From the Sheepwash car park head north along the road for a short distance until you come to a cattle grid. Turn right here into Coalmire Plantation and follow the forestry track. After a short distance you will come to a short but steep shale bank which falls away on your left. Go down Limekiln Bank (this can be "interesting" in wet weather) and at the bottom turn right following the footpath which skirts the tree-line.

After a while you come to what appears at first sight to be a dead end, turn left across the stile and cut diagonally across the field. Through the gate you come out onto a lane. Turn left and follow this lane across a ford to Huthwaite Green. At the junction and the telephone box go straight across and take the lane towards the trees you can see on the hillside in front of you. On reaching the trees you turn left and follow an obvious path along the tree line. After a short while you come to the Sheepdrift. This is a short but very steep climb. Turn right a go up this. Steps have been cut in to the bank to combat erosion, some people might argue about the aesthetics of this but believe me if you are doing the walk in really wet weather you will be thankful for them as before their introduction it was nigh on impossible to climb this bank. On reaching the top of the bank turn left and follow the footpath round the edge of the escarpment. You will walk along the edge of a glider station; do not be tempted to take the short cut across the runway as the owners tend to become rather irate and a glad on the back of the neck can be slightly painful.

Follow the path all the way round until you come to some old alum workings overlooking the road up from Carlton, turn left just past these workings and drop down to the road at the point where the access road to the glider station joins it. Cross this road and the path to follow is obvious as it stretches out like a long black scar in front of you up the side of Cringle Moor. When you arrive at the foot of the ascent to Cringle you have a choice; you can either turn left and follow the path that skirts round the bottom or you can go straight on over the top. The bottom route is very easy to follow and in bad conditions is safer though it does have the disadvantage of being very muddy at times. If you do choose the bottom path then just follow your nose and it eventually brings you out on to Clay Bank just south of the car park. The classic route is straight on over the top of Cringle and though this route is more strenuous it does reward you with some very fine views on a clear day. After the long drag up Cringle you are faced with a steep drop and another climb up onto Cold Moor closely followed by another drop and climb up to the top of Hasty Bank.

From the summit of Hasty follow the path down to rejoin the bottom track at Clay Bank. (map ref :- NZ573035) (During summer you may be fortunate enough to find the snack bar in the car park open but don't bank on it) SECTION 2 : CLAY BANK TO WHITE CROSS Cross the road (Beware! This is a very busy road and you cross half way round a fast bend) and go through the gate oppsite. Follow the path uphill keeping the wall to your left. Do not make the mistake of going up the forestry track on the opposite side of the wall. The path climbs steeply and passes through a cleft in the rocks; which can become very slippery in wet weather; and continues up to the stone wall near the top of the hill. Follow the old pony track keeping the wall to your left . At the end of the wall bear left and follow a broad track (the remains of a fire break) to the top of Urra Moor. At the summit of this unspectacular moor is the trig point at Botton Head. This is the highest point on the North Yorks. Moors at 1,489 ft.

and offers a fine view over the industrial wasteland of Teesside. Continue along this broad path as far as the disused railway track at Bloworth Crossing. Turn right and follow this track the walking is easy and at first it comes as a relief but after a while it becomes boring and after going round several bends at the head of various dales you begin to wonder if there is an end to this part of the walk. Don't despair, eventually you come to a point where you can see some buildings at the top of a ridge to your right. This welcome sight is the Red Lion Inn. Follow the short path that leads up the slope at the back of the pub and it brings you out conveniently near the front door and if you have timed your walk correctly that door could well be open. You can now see White Cross (map ref :-NZ 677019)across the head of Rosedale. You have a choice. You can either walk round the road to it or you can follow a path that you can see heading across the head of the dale. It's your walk so take your pick.

SECTION 3 : WHITE CROSS TO ELLERBECK From White Cross follow the footpath across the dale head until it crosses the road to Rosedale. On the other side of the road a clearly defined path heads due east . Follow this path, the walking is easy and the scenery is magnificent (providing the weather is good). Just past Loose Howe you will come to the George Gap and a stone marked Causeway Stone; the bog in the hollow below is wet in the best of summers; in bad weather it can be almost impossible to cross, so be sure to take care. After you have negotiated the bog the path is easy to follow over Shunner Howe and on to Hamer (map ref :- SE 744 995). As you come down from Shunner Howe you can see most of the remainder of the walk stretched out before you. If you are easily depressed lower your eyes and concentrate on the path in front of you. From Hamer the path is clearly defined and you can just make out the outline of Blue Man i' t' Moss on the skyline. The path is easy to follow all the way to Blue Man but it can be very wet in bad weather.

After the Blue man has been reached the path becomes more difficult to follow; there was a large moor fire here several years ago and all the heather and peat was burned off, right down to the bed rock. The view from here looking east, the way you are going, resembles a lunar landscape. With usage a bit of a path has been worn in but most of the way across this wasteland is undefined. Head a rough course east and when you once more reach heather you will pick up a clearly defined path. Follow this and you will eventually come to the Stape road, cross this and you will shortly come to another road. This one is a little older having been built by the romans. After crossing the roman road the path drops suddenly down a steep valley to Wheeldale Beck and its neighboring youth hostel. The beck is crossed by stepping stones and the path follows straight on from them up Howl Moor to Simon Howe. This is one of those annoying hills where every time you come to a crest of a ridge another one appears in front of you. Don't despair there is an end to it .......eventually.

From the top of Simon Howe you can now see the bridge at Ellerbeck and it's now downhill all the way to it. Follow the path down the hill to the railway line. Be careful crossing the track. The line is in use and during summer trains run regularly; and it should be noted that they have the right of way so please don't try to argue with one. From the railway it is only a couple of minutes walk up the footpath through Fen Bogs to Ellerbeck (map ref :- SE 857983). SECTION 4 : ELLERBECK TO RAVENSCAR Cross the road and follow the path to the right of the stream to Lilla Cross. Lilla Howe is the smaller of the two howes you can see directly ahead of you. From Lilla Howe head due east following a well worn track. This is not the classical route but it is a lot easier walking. The classical route which is only a few yards away but you will be floundering about in tussocky heather. The path drops away to Jugger Howe Ravine. In bad weather this can be heavy going. Cross Jugger Beck and follow the path out of the ravine.

This is a very steep climb but mercifully short. On reaching the tank track (a concrete road) follow it to the left and after a few minutes walk you come to the Whitby - Scarborough road. Cross this road carefully, it is very busy. A path now leads out in front of you across the moor to the mast at Ravenscar, 1 mile away (NZ 970 013). Even though you are now tired this last mile is no problem and the finish is easily reached. After you have recovered from your walk send a report (humorous preferred) along with 25p per finisher and to the LYKE WAKE CLUB and they will send you a completion card and enrol you into the club.Please also remember to send a s.a.e. Information on walking the Cleveland Way General Overview “Combine moor & Coast, abbeys & smuggler’s villages in an orgy of history & beauty” This is a cracking ‘little’ long distance trail taking in great chunks of moorland and cliff edge walking and to a lesser extent the rivers which carve deeply in to the high moorland plateau.

I say ‘little’ but that does not mean that it is either worthy or a big effort, just compared to the Coast to Coast and Pennine Way it is shorter . However it is wonderfully planned and visits nearly all the sites and scenes which typify the North York Moors – it is true that once you have done the Cleveland Way you have done the best of the North York Moors with its Coast. The walk starts in the centre of the attractive market town of Helmsley and after passing through 60 odd miles of wild upland moors and hills drops down to the sea at Saltburn and spends its final 40 miles taking the cliff top path to a finish at Scarborough. It is this contrast which makes the Cleveland Way totally unique – no other long distance path combines moor and coast so successfully. One of the other pleasures of the Cleveland Way is the ease of securing accommodation – with only a bit of planning and varying the length of each day’s walk it is straight forward to find places to stay and pubs to eat in on the walk. That does not mean they will be available mid August the day before but for a National Trail the availability of accommodation is very good.

A Sample Day by Day Itinerary Day 1 Helmsley to Sutton Bank 11.5 miles. An easy and relaxed start to the day so a visit to Rievaulx Abbey can easily be included (and should be). Starting after lunch it is also possible to visit the White Horse at Kilburn (where the limestone has been exposed in the shape of a horse) and ‘hop’ up Hambleton Hill. Overnight will be in one of the villages near Sutton Bank such as Kilburn itself. Day 2. Sutton Bank to Osmotherley 12 miles A high level walk over the escarpment of Sutton Bank all the way to Osmotherley. The views to the west are far reaching and the walking easy on excellent paths and old drove roads. Hambleton End at 1.300 foot is the high point. Take a sandwich as there is little in the way of stops before dropping in to the busy little village of Osmotherley. Stock up at this point with a long day to come. Day 3.

Osmotherley to Great Ayton/Kildale 20.5 miles Day 3 is sometimes split in two but if you are reasonably fit it is best to carry on all the way to Kildale or even Great Ayton. The route is often described as a roller coaster of moorland walking as there are a number of times that the route drops a few hundred feet to a road or a pretty stream. The moors are windswept but the views are continually impressive and the walking usually easy with the worst sections of paths now flagged. Lunch spots can be found, the cafe at Clay Bank being one, but this is a day to let yourself go and soak in the miles. My favourite. Day 4. Great Ayton/Kildale to Saltburn 14.5 miles Whether starting at Kildale or Great Ayton the first stop is Captain Cook’s spectacular obelisk style monument and a few miles further on the most iconic peak in the North York Moors, Roseberry Topping. Even though the Cleveland Way does not pass over the summit it is worth visiting although take care of the sudden drop.

From here the track enters farmland as it skirts Guisborough and the smell of the sea is upon you. Some attractive woodland is passed through before the Victorian seaside town of Saltburn is reached. Day 5 Saltburn to Runswick Bay 13 miles The initial stretch of coastline to Skinningrove is enlived by the crumbling cliffs and old railway which have an inevitability of clashing soon – and there will be only one winner! After Skinningrove the coastal path climbs steadily up Boulby Cliffs, the 2nd one being the highest cliff in England. The pretty fishing village of Staithes is next – a step back in history before another climb leads towards the final destination of the day, the incomparable Runswick Bay. Day 6 Runswick Bay to Robin Hood’s Bay 11.5 miles Cliff top walking from Runswick Bay and Port Mulgrave will eventually be left behind for some traditional beack walking at Sandsend. Whitby will do for lunch (a place to return on a later visit) and then a short climb brings you back up to the cliffside path with the spectacular backdrop of Whitby Abbey.

From here to Robin Hood’s Bay is 6 miles of interesting walking past the lighthouse and old radar stations of the 2nd World War Day 7 Robin Hood’s Bay to Scarborough 14.5 miles Robin Hod’s Bay is a dramatic sweep of sand but the path soon takes to the cliffs again on the steep climb up to the dramatic point at Ravenscar. From here the walking is excellent and the views constantly dramatic with the only serious drop being down to Heyburn Wyke through some pretty woodland. Climbing out of here Scarborough is spotted in the distance but the path rolls up and down before arriving at the bright lights and popular sea front. The end should be here but it is not! Day 8 Scarborough to Filey 10 miles A simple half day will take you down to the twin resort of Filey. The walking is ok but a little disappointing after the spectacular days before but milestone 103 is soon found and the walk officially finishes.

An excellent E Book guide from Sally Jenkins who wlked the Way on one of our holidays Personal Journey I have to be honest and admit that I did not walk the Cleveland Way in one continuous journey but broke it up in to segments, many fitting in to individual walks, sometimes circular in nature. However what I can say is that I walked every step with only the coastal 10 miles from Scarborough to Filey not yet done. The rest of the coastal stretch I did in 2 days and then enjoyed the ‘inland’ sections on a variety of multi day walks. And it was great but harder work than I thought it would be. Forget your thoughts that the North York Moors is just and upland moorland plateau which you walk around in an airy but flat manner. It is not. Only on the stretch between Helmsley and Osmotherley is their any more than a mile of flat walking, the rest is a constant round of up and down which can be brutal. I found this particularly so on the coastal section north of Whitby. Hard work to do this. However to compensate the paths are clear and not overly eroded providing good walking and less hard on the feet than some Long Distance walks I had done before.

Mud may be encountered on the farmlands around Guisborough but overall it is not too bad, both the Dales Way and the Cumbria Way are considerably worse for this. A major reason for this is that the Cleveland Way spends a good deal of its time on the higher land around rather than the lower valleys where conditions are often worse. Mist my border collie came with me and it is certainly a more dog friendly long distance trail than many. There are enough dog friendly places to stay but more importantly the wide open spaces on the moors and the coastal path are brilliant for her to race around and not offend any land owner. The major danger appeared to be losing her off the crumbling cliff edge but the same could be said for myself!. I have tried to fit the walks I did in to the Day by Day itinerary below and it certainly works most of the time but I have also moved off the traditional approach when writing up long distance paths by including some day walks that are well worth doing and will offer a much better and deeper perspective of the area. Day-by-day Day 1.

From Helmsley to Sutton Bank 10.5 miles This is a straightforward and short walk and can easily be left till after lunch (and Helmsley does a nice lunch) but I would recommend a couple of slight detours. The first of these is Rievaulx Abbey which is half a mile off the route and the second is just shy of Sutton Bank and the White Horse . Kilburn itself is a great place to stop for the night so the ‘horse ‘ may start you off on day 2! Day 2. From Sutton Bank to Osmotherley 12 miles Dominated by the far reaching views to the west I was lucky enough to be walking on a good day. The first section of the walk past the White Horse and Sutton Bank itself is described here past the gliding station and the refreshments which can sometimes be found at Sutton Bank. From here the ridge keeps to a good height, passing Hambleton Hill (1309′) before gradually descending in to the ‘walking centre’ of the Moors, Osmotherley.

There is a good choice of places to stay here, including a youth hostel although I am bias, my brother lives here so the bed was good as was the food (and cheap!) Day 3. From Osmotherley to Great Ayton (20/22 miles) I will say first off that many break this in to 2 days but I just loved the long long days of upland moorland and this is a classic. From Osmotherley I soon joined the Lyke Wake Walk/Coast to Coast routes, all of which enjoy the lovely walking on the north west section of Moorland. The views are again good (even Middlesborough looks ok) and the walking excellent; if you do not believe me look at the pictures that are attached here . Clay Bank offers an obvious break and the ‘bikers cafe’ is superb, well worth giving the ham sandwich a miss for the day. Also the walking is hard in the initial section and I certainly felt I deserved it. Kildale is enroute and still in the moors but it is quite straightforward to let gravity pull you down in to the larger Great Ayton Day 4.

From Great Ayton to Saltburn by the Sea (14.5 miles) A completely contrasting day of mainly lowland walking which I find a relief after the higher moors of the day before. Start though with a visit to 2 iconic land marks of the North York Moors, Captain Cook’s Monument and Roseberry Topping , Roseberry Topping is just skirted by the official route but is a great little summit, totally out of character with other higher points so far passed. From here there is, for me anyway, a rather uninteresting section around Guisborough with some farmland leading in to a wooded glade and the final miles to Saltburn. However the sea air and segulls certainly changes the whole flavour of the walk. Saltburn by the Sea has some character and has retained some of its charm that made it such a popular holiday spot for the Victorians. Not many are better and some are considerably worse! The next section is along the coast and because I like staying in the smaller places (rather than Whitby and Scarborough) some of the mileages are a little odd.

It is perfectly possible to break the walk in to 4 days (2 getting you to Whitby and 2 from Whitby) but I prefer 3 with a break at Ravenscar and Robin Hood’s Bay. It all becomes very personal at this stage. Day 5. From Saltburn to Runswick Bay (14 miles) Ample time to enjoy my favourite part of the coast but there is a good deal of climbing to be done including over Boulby Cliff, the highest in England. From Saltburn to Sinningrove the cliff is crumbling and the old railway about to be lost so take care but after Sinningrove the views are spectacular and dramatic, coastal walking at its best. Before you know it drop in to the old fishing village of Staithes for an explore and a lunch stop on the harbour walls. I have returned to Staithes a number of times and it really is an historical masterpiece but the Cleveland Way walker has not too much time to tarry and must carry on! Another 5 miles brought me to Runswick Bay , a beautiful spot on a wide sweeping bay. A place to sit and ponder and enjoy the tranquility of the coast and ruminate on smugglers past.

To me the best day of the walk but there are a lot of ups and downs. Day 6. From Runswick Bay to Robin Hood’s Bay (13 miles) Another busy day that defies the reasonable mileage. Lunch at Whitby does draw you on over the first section of coast but do not rush it. The cliffside is an orgy of fascinating coves, rocks and moonscape and was unlike anything I had come across before until I dropped downto the more traditional sea side resort at Sandsend. Whitby is a great place to explore with its harbour, abbey and winding cobbled streets but just vow to come back and strike on towards Robin Hood’s Bay. The steep pull up to the abbey from Whitby centre is the start of some straightforward walking; the views contrasting with snippets of history to keep the enjoyment levels high (the route passes the Whitby lighthouse and old WW11 air raid radar posts. These are explained, along with other gems by various notice boards enroute, an educational feature that the Park itself should be proud of and keen to maintain.

Robin Hood’s Bay offers a fine place to stay the night although it is possible to travel the extra mile (as they say, and this may be 2) to Ravenscar on its position perched high on the cliffs. Day 7. From Robin Hood’s Bay to Scarborough (15 miles) For me the section to the south east of Ravenscar lacks the dramatic appeal of that further north but that is not everyone’s view, maybe it is just that after a couple of days of excellent coastal scenery the variety is just not there. However the walking is good and certainly the pub at Heyburn Wyke fascinating but the imminent arrival of Scarborough for the night is less so. The coastal scenery though will keep you going (it certainly did me) but eventually the cliffs drop away and the bright lights of Scarborough beckon. Day 8. From Scarborough to Filey (10 miles) I am not quite sure why the walk does not finish in Scarborough but as I have not yet walked the final 10 miles to Filey my opinion is fairly worthless. When I do I will let you know.

Lyke Wake Walk - Information for Walkers Lyke Wake Walk The Lyke Wake Walk is a 42 mile crossing of the North York Moors from Osmotherley to Ravenscar. The official starting point is the Lyke Wake Stone, just past the reservoir on the outskirts of Osmotherley and the finishing point the Lyke Wake Stone on Beacon Howes at Ravenscar. This route is usually undertaken as a challenge walk, making the crossing in a single non-stop walk of between 12 and 19 hours, depending upon fitness and walking conditions. As such it is generally considered a hard walk and a significant challenge to most people. Such organised crossings usually comprise seven sections with checkpoints and support teams in between. Each section presents a different challenge. The first two sections run concurrently with the Cleveland Way before the Lyke Wake turns off east along a disused railway track. Each year thousands of people attempt this challenge. Those who prepare before hand usually succeed, whereas those who do not suffer on route. Of course this route does not have to be tackled as a time trial endurance challenge.

If you want more time to enjoy the spectacular views and glorious scenery you can make the journey over two days, stopping overnight at Wheeldale Lodge Youth Hostel, providing you book in advance. Bear in mind, however, that the journey will still not be easy, as you have 5,000 feet of total ascent, peat bogs and ravines to traverse and quite possibly strong winds and lashing rain to contend with. lyke wake walk - walkingontheweb lyke wake walk Parent Category: walking in england Lyke Wake Walk From Osmotherley follow the Cleveland Way climb to South Wood and the walk also joins with Wainwright's Coast to Coast Walk. Either add to your woes and follow the Cleveland Way out of Osmotherley to get you to the the start of the Lyke Wake Walk or get dropped off! Either way the walk starts at the cattle grid next to the entrance to the Coalmire Plantation indicated by the sign above. Is the damage to the Lyke Wake sign inflicted by those who have completed the walk and sought revenage? Possibly not as most would not have the energy nor wish to return to where it all started!!!

At the cattlegrid its east into Coalmire Plantation along a distinct forest track for approximately 500m before descending a steep shale bank of to the left. Being shale this can prove interesting in or after wet weather. At the bottom of the bank the route turns right along a footpath following the edge of the plantation. After approx 1km leave this path via a stile to the left going diagonally across the field to a gate leading onto the lane to Hollin Hill. Turn left. There is a ford to cross! The lane comes to a crossroads with a telephone box! Don't think you'll be tempted to use it yet! and a lane heading towards the trees directly opposite. Take this lane up to the trees and turn left following the tree line for 500m before turning right. In front of you is a very short but fairly steep climb aided by steps! This short innocent looking ascent always gets us! Coming relatively early on the walk it is a quick reminder that this is a serious walk? For those of you who started at the "start" and not in Osmotherly this will be the first bank that you have climbed.

The Lyke Wake and the Cleveland Way and the Coast to Coast turn left and follow the edge of the escarpment past Gold Hill and on to the top of Faceby and Carlton Bank. The route also follows the edge of the gliding club to the right. Don't go on the runway!!! A cairn marks the end of Carlton Bank and the descent through the old alum quarries to the Carlton / Chop Gate road . This is another major herdle to get over! Once inside the Lord Stones Cafe having an early morning cup of tea or coffee do you want to go on? I think so you're still up for the challenge surely? From the Lord Stones Cafe go through or to either side of the small copice onto open grassland and head for the corner post of the field in front of you. The path running eastwards is the route that you now follow as it climbs up onto Cringle Moor and the Alec Falconer memorial plaque. A request from the holiday fellowship.

Friend, when you stray, or sit and take your ease On moor, or fell, or under spreading trees, Pray, leave no traces of your wayside meal, No paper bag, no scattered orange peel, nor daily journal littered on the grass; Others may view these with distaste and pass. Let no one say, and say it to your shame, that all was beauty here until you came. We think you can get a copy of the plaque on a card but the details of how to do so are obsecured by the concrete holding the plaque in place! From the plaque follow the top edge of Kirby Bank with Cringle Moor to your left before a steep descent preparing you for the ascent of the northern end of Cold Moor. Now that you have the hang of it descend again into the graft gap before climbing up to the Wain Stones on Hasty Bank. This is almost the last "bank" to navigate! From Hasty Bank descend to the main Stokesley / Helmsley road the B1257 and Clay Bank.

If the weather is in your opinion bad then there is an alternative easy low level route that runs from the bottom of Cringle Moor around to the left that having pasted through Broughton Plantation brings you out at Clay Bank . Sometimes there is a snack bar in the car park to the left during the summer but don't bank on it!!! The path from the road at the top of Clay Bank keeps to the wall on its left with an initial short climb that levels off before passing through a gate and ascending steeply via stone slabs onto Carr Ridge. At Bloworth Crossing the Cleveland Way takes a sharp left turn leaving the Lyke Wake Walk and the Coast to Coast to continue heading east along a very visible dismantled railway line all the way to the The Lion Inn at Blakey . Warning it is easy under foot but mentally it gets very, very boring the only relief being the thought of the pub. A path goes off to the left that leads right up to the front door of the Inn where you will be met with another servere challenge. Go on or take in the medicine they offer to relieve the pain? Warning too much pain relief may hamper your chances of success!!! From the pub turn left along the road.

You can either follow this up to the next junction and turn right to "Fat Belly" the "White Cross" or take the distinct path that cuts across the head of Rosedale. From "Fat Belly" follow the road around until it meets another coming from the left. Beyond this road a clearly defined path with Lyke Wake standing stone heads east over the top of Loose Howe to the George Gap marked by a boundary stone on the George Gap Causeway that cuts across the Lyke Wake Walk at this point. The stone reads "Causeway Stone". From here note the series of water courses that you need to cross. This is bog country and with so many tributaries of West Gill to cross this can be very boggy indeed so great care should be taken. Ordnance Survey Explorer OL27 North York Moors - Eastern area Following the bog is Shunner Howe. From here you can see the sea on a clear day. What you can also see is the replacement for the "golf balls", "the sandcastle" on Flyingdale Moor. The Ministry of Defence early warning station. Why is this significant to the Lyke Wake Walk?

Because its there in front of you and doesn't go away and doesn't seem to get any nearer even though you are walking towards it!!! From Shunner Howe a very gentle gradient takes you down to Hamer a series of old workings overgrown by time that stradle the road from Rosedale to Glaisdale and Egton. From Hamer come the the delights of White Moor including the Turnhill Stone and Blue Man i' th' Moss standing stone. The moor is wet and relatively flat with a fairly well defined route across. If you've strayed to far south below Hamer and go to pick up the path marked on the Ordnance Survey map there are signs wrapped around the pole barring vehicles indicating that its the wrong way!!! The other thing is on a clear day you should be able to make out the Blue Man i' th' Moss. From here Wheeldale Moor awaits. The path is well defined and brings you to the Wheeldale Road. Cross over and after 500m or so cross a wonderful example of Roman Road before descending to and climbing back out of Wheeldale Beck having crossed it via the stepping stones.

Please note that Wheeldale Lodge is no longer a Youth Hostel From the top of the bank head east on a series of gradual ascents to the top of Simon Howe followed by an equally gradual descent to the North York Moors Railway. Do not be tempted to follow the line of shooting butts that head in line up Crag Stone Rigg. The Lyke Wake Walk goes left following a track across wet bog to pick up a small stream on the left hand side that is eventually crossed. it creates a small but annoying ravine that requires some careful footwork to avoid slipping especially in wet weather. This is a very popular steam railway and as such you should take care in crossing. Wouldn't want to get ran over by a train at this stage. Having crossed the track in one piece take the footbridge made out of old wooden sleepers over Eller Beck, through the gate and cross Fen Bog by way of a series of old precast concrete railway sleepers laid side by side to form a track. Through another gate the track climbs up and heads to Eller Beck Bridge on the A169 Pickering to Whitby Road . It is a bus route!!!

Cross the road and follow the stream on the left and Fylingdales "Sandcastle" on the right. You will be observed! The track will take you up to Lilla Cross on Lilla Howe. At this point you think the "sandcastle" isn't in front of me anymore but you will keep looking back and there it is! From Lilla Cross go very slightly north of east to pick up a well defined track across High Moor before crossing Jugger Howe Beck via a well placed footbridge. This can be muddy in the wet. Follow the edge of Jugger Howe Moor and Burn Howe Dale to the Scarborough / Whitby road A171. Cross the road onto Stoney Marl Howes and the last section past the telecommunications mast and into Ravenscar North York Moors Walk - Osmotherley - Walks - Yorkshire Life Email this article to a friend To send a link to this page you must be logged in. Mount Grace Priory Osmotherley is an attractive moors village sitting snugly below the western flank of the Cleveland Hills and is an ideal place to start a bracing walk. Certainly local farmer and master rambler Bill Cowley thought so.

He chose it as the starting point for his daunting Lyke Wake Walk, a leg-sapping 40-mile crossing of the moors to Ravenscar on the East Coast. This much gentler outing makes use of another, though even longer walk, the Cleveland Way, which passes through the village on its 110-mile route around of the North York Moors. Our route also allows for a couple of short but worthwhile diversions to two long-established religious sites with links to Henry VIII, one a still-used chapel founded by his first wife, Catherine of Aragon, the other a priory closed on his orders after the Reformation. From the centre of Osmotherley walk up North End, an attractive street lined by stone cottages with pantiled roofs. At the crest of the hill look out on the left for a Cleveland Way sign pointing to Scarth Nick. This is Rueberry Lane. Turn up this, passing several cottages and bungalows as it climbs steadily uphill until the view opens out across the wide plain below to the distant Pennines. Soon a fork is reached with a sign to Ladys Chapel.

Although off our route it is worth a few minutes diversion to see this old building, said to have been built by Catherine of Aragon and claimed to be the site of several miracles which have made it a modern place of pilgrimage for Roman Catholics. Back on the main track, carry on along the Cleveland Way to Chapel Wood Farm, where it is possible to make another ecclesiastical diversion, this time dropping down the slope to Mount Grace Priory, a former Carthusian Monastery now in the care of the National Trust, who make an entrance charge. Otherwise, pass through the gate to continue along the Cleveland Way, ignoring a track rising to the right. Soon the path enters Arncliffe Wood. Immediately through the entrance gate take the right hand fork which begins to climb the hill through the trees, becoming narrower for a while before passing a telecommunications station. Carry on past this and along the escarpment until the views open up north and east with the dramatic escarpment of the Cleveland Hills, leading the eye to the shapely cone of Roseberry Topping in the distance. The path eventually begins to lose height and drops to Scarth Wood Moor.

Pass through two gates in quick succession as the atmosphere of the walk changes from the broad arable plain to sterner moorland terrain. Carry on along the clear track, which becomes flagged for a while before eventually curving round to meet the road at Scarth Nick, a notch carved out by glacier meltwater after the last ice age. Turn right up the road and walk over the hill and down the other side until the waters of Cod Beck Reservoir come into view. On a right hand bend just before reaching the lake a footbridge leads left onto the moor. Cross this and climb the steep track beyond. This is the start of High Lane, a broad track which forms most of the return leg of the walk. After passing a wood on the right the track becomes metalled. After a couple of hundred yards on the Tarmac look out for a footpath sign on the right, pointing the way down another broad track whose entrance is guarded by metal posts and a chain. Go down this, walking along the ridge with extensive views to the lowering hummock of Black Hambledon to the south. At the end of the track cross a stile and descend two fields until Osmotherley appears in the valley below.

Pass through a couple of ramshackle fences and climb a stile to reach a muddy track. Turn left along it and drop steeply down the sunken way to a junction with a farm access track. A few yards before the junction is reached a finger post on the right signals a junction with the Cleveland Way. Squeeze through the narrow gap stile and turn right along the track towards the farm until another Cleveland Way sign directs you rightwards round the buildings and down into a wooded valley. Cross the stream at the foot of the hill by a wooden footbridge and climb a stepped path up the slope beyond. This leads to an enclosed track and Osmotherley. Share your favourite walks by emailing letters@yorkshirelife.co.uk , putting walks in the subject field. Or register and leave a comment below Geraint Whitley's Boys, keep off the moors, stick to the roads. . for WCIT Charity on BT MyDonate About I will get there: it will be painful but I will make it. The organising charity is the WCIT and I am very fortunate to be a member of the Worshipful Company of Information Technologists – a London Livery Company.

The Company does a tremendous amount of charitable work in the UK.The second charity is the Tiplyang Project which promotes education and healthcare in Nepal.After the recent earthquakes there is more need than ever for help to be provided locally. Fundraising as part of a team, view team page . Event details 40 miles at night in the howling wind and rain.... I have decided to join a small charity group walking across the Yorkshire Moors from Osmotherley to Ravenscar; a distance of 40 plus miles. The walk is called the Lyke Wake Walk and apparently is quite famous having first being completed in 1955.The walk must be completed in 24 hours, there is no set path, we will have to climb a total of 5000ft carrying our own equipment and, just to add to the daunting task, we are walking through the night! Event date

Question: Which walking path runs for 42 miles from Osmotherley to Ravenscar?
Answer: LYKE WAKE WALK