Grosmont to Robin Hood's Bay

They did it!!  190 ish miles walked in 2 weeks across England - coast to coast.  So very well done and congratulations to everyone, and many thanks to Mr Compeed; Mrs Ibuprofen and Miss Paracetamol for assisting in this momentous achievement. 

The day started in the pouring rain - again, but everyone was in high spirits as it was the last day.  Carol and I dropped them off, and I didn't even get out of the bus to take a photo as it was soooooo wet.  They walked through more bogs today which came over boots so did a slight change in route to walk on the road. 

Helen climbing over style with the 'boggy bits' behind

They walked through woods, clambering over tree trunks, but at least there were no large hills today, just a gradual climb. 

welcome shelter in a hermit cave carved out of solid rock.

Fortunately the rain stopped at about 11am.  They were due to get to Robin Hood's Bay at about 2pm.

Carol and I drove to Robin Hood's Bay to meet them, parked in the car park at the top of the village and walked down to the sea.  As we walked down and down and down we were thinking that they would need to walk back up this extremely steep hill to get back to the bus. (we couldn't drive the bus down the road as it was too narrow.)  We couldn't see them at the bottom so walked back up (phew)and had a cup of tea and kept a look out for them. 

After a short time we saw them coming down the road, and we all walked down to the dock and out to find the sea as the tide had gone out.  They needed to throw their pebbles into the sea (that had been carried from St. Bees). 

Once the pebbles had been thrown, it was into the Wainwright bar for a very welcome beer.

Then - back up the hill to the mini bus and back to the house for a glass of bubbly; fish and chips; fun and games. 

Congratulations to Steve Y; Steve W; Pat; Walt; Helen; Lin; Jacquie; Alan; John; George; Tim.
and a great big thank you to Carol for helping with all the driving and logistics.

Discussions are underway for the next challenge - ahhhhhhh!!

Blakey Ridge to Grosmont

The most important thing to mention today is that the girls convincingly won triv last night!  (Steve W was an honourary girl!).  The decider is tonight.

Day 13 (not unlucky for anyone) broke with mist shrouding the hills, but no rain.  We left at our usual time of 8 ish and got to the start point at about 8.30.  Carol and I started out on the walk across the moors with everyone and after about an hour and 2.7 miles we turned back to collect the bus.  It was windy on top and quite cold - but no rain!!  We saw quite a few grouse about, they make a funny sound like a laughing duck!  Carol and I also saw a skylark quite close. 

The walkers carried on in a downwards direction for a change to Glaisdale and then onto Grosmont.  The steam train goes through Grosmont from Pickering to Whitby.  Once they had walked down to and through Grosmont, they needed to walk up out of the village.  This was by no means an easy task as it was a 1 in 3 road and went on for quite a distance; but they must be fitter as no-one needed to stop half way up for a breather.  Unfortunately the leader group took the wrong road when it forked and got to the top only to realise they had taken the wrong road, so had to come back down half way to go back up the other road! Once at the top it was an easy walk to the main road and the mini bus.  13 miles walked; just 13 to go to the end.

Once back to the mini bus, Carol and I headed down towards Pickering and passed through a pretty village called Rosedale Abbey, and (oh dear) they had a tea room displaying some rather gorgeous cakes and scones.  It had to be done, so we went inside and ordered coffee with a toasted cheese and
mustard scone; it was scrummy.  I forgot to mention the other day in Reeth that we also had a scone with coffee - this time it was a cranberry scone with wensleydale cheese;  we are becoming quite expert at finding different scones!  Interestingly where the walkers walk about 13 miles across the moors, it takes the bus a lot more miles to get to the destination as the roads only seem to go north to south not West to East.
We gradually made our way then to Goathland where they filmed Heartbeat and the station was used in the first Harry Potter film.

 

 

After a quick look round here, we headed to the main road and a layby to meet the walkers.  Then back to the house for tea and biscuits etc. etc. 

Clay bank top to Blakey ridge

Well - today was certainly better for weather!  The sun shone; the wind dropped and it was slightly warmer.  So the walk was pleasant and easy with not too much up and down.  They started from Clay bank and continued for a short distance on the Cleveland way before stiking out over the moorland to the most remote inn on the moor - the Lion Inn. 

They decided that it would be a good idea to walk almost another 3 miles from the Inn along a small road so to make tomorrow's walk a little shorter.  That made today's walk about 11 1/2 miles - only 27 miles to go!!  They saw grouse feeding stations but no actual grouse today; they had seen some yesterday.

Carol and I left the bus where we dropped them off and walked back the way they had come from yesterday; to the Wainstones.  These are a rocky outcrop and there are supposed to be some carved stones somewhere there; but you could see for miles and miles on the top of the hill, to Middlesbrough and Teeside and all the villages between.  The walkers yesterday could probably only see 10 feet in front of them!

Wainstones yesterday.

Wainstones today, but they presented a different problem to photograph as the sun was facing the camera.

 

 Once we had finished our walk we drove back to the house and then onto the Lion Inn meeting everyone there at about 12 o'clock.  Coffee had to be drunk and then we drove along the road to meet them again after their extra miles. 

This part of the walk took us passed 'Fat Betty' a square and round stone at which you are supposed to leave some food for her.  So walkers usually take what's there and leave something fresh.

 

John with 'Fat Betty' - he had placed a banana on her mouth and a chocolate for her nose.

As it was quite a short day again we were back at the house by just after 2pm; so tea, biscuits, baths and relaxing was the order for the afternoon.  Along with the odd bounce on the trampoline that is in the garden.

Walt, Helen and Tim were on kitchen duty tonight and we had cheese and biscuits for pud with port, which was poured into a decanter and passed around again and again and everyone had to give a toast to someone.  Then Walt (who has thoroughly enjoyed cooking on the Aga) started to cook crepes (pancakes) with chocolate, bananas, brown sugar etc.  It's a wonder I'm writing this blog at all tonight!  There is to be a return match of Triv and someone mentioned playing sardines in this amazing house.  The finishing post is definately in sight.

Ingleby Cross to Clay bank top

Today was supposed to have been a rest day, but as the next walk was to be in excess of 20 miles it was decided that they would walk 12 miles today and 10 tomorrow.  It all sounded a good idea, the only trouble was the rain and lots of it!  They started at Ingleby Cross at about 8.15 am, which was early as it was only 15 minutes from the house.

 Apparently it didn't stop raining all the time, and was extremely misty over the high ground; it was one of those days where it was head down and get to the end as quickly as possible.  So we picked up some very soggy walkers from Clay bank top at about 1.30.  It must have rained more over the high ground than lower as we did have a few moments of no rain on lower ground.  So we brought them back to the house for baths, showers, hot tea and cake.

Carol decided to get to grips with the Aga cooker in the kitchen so made 2 cakes.  Apparently the Hairy Bikers rented the house for a couple of months to record some programs here, so we can say we've used the same cooker as them - is that a claim to fame?!! 

This house would seem to belong to John Sutcliffe, an ex MP for Middlesbrough, whose Father was Sir Harold Sutcliffe who was also an MP and an expert in the cotton trade.  We think his children now manage it as a holiday home.

I popped to the shop again for a couple of things we had forgotten to ask Sainsburys to deliver; amazingly I didn't need to buy wine or beer.

Pat preparing dinner at the butchers table and cooking on the Aga

This afternoon, everyone has enjoyed relaxing around the fire in the lounge, or catching up on a bit of sleep, or spending an hour or so in the bath.  Tomorrows weather looks better thankfully.

 

A game of trivial pursuit saw the boys win by a whisker!!

Catterick to Inglby Cross

Day 10 dawned bright with no rain, and we packed and squeezed our bags into the van to travel to our new accomodation.  We travelled for an hour to get back to Catterick racecourse and dropped the walkers off for their 18 mile walk. 

Carol and I made our way to Ingleby Cross just to check the pick up point for later - the pub!  Carol decided that she needed the loo at this point and went to what she thought were the loos at the back of the pub.  On her way out of the loo she realised that actually they were chalets where people stayed - someone had left the door open and there was cups on the side; - Carol made a hasty retreat! 

Ingleby Cross (you can see the buildings behind that looked like public toilets!)

We carried on to Great Broughton on the edge of the North York moors, and our new house - a huge manor house!  Talk about a different house from the last two.  It was built in about 1900 and has back stairs with servants bells and a fantastic kitchen; dining room; lounge; play room etc. etc.

It took us a while to find our way round, but we sorted out who was to sleep in which bedroom and waited for Sainsburys to arrive.  We started to cook the dinner and went off to collect everyone at 4 o'clock - of course they were in the pub, so we joined them.

The walkers had a mostly dry day with a few showers and enjoyed a good lunch spot, except that Alan realised he had put salt in his flask of coffee instead of sugar!  The walk was fairly flat for a change, and just meandered through fields, farm land and country lanes.

When we got the walkers back to the house, we had to give them a guided tour so they could find their way around!  So a welcome bath for some (there were no baths at the last house) or shower for others awaited.  After dinner we watched our usual Julia Bradley DVD episode of her walk of the 'coast to coast' so that everyone knew what was to come the following day - back to some hills:)

Reeth to Catterick bridge

Today's walk was supposed to be just 10.5 miles and finish in Richmond, but as tomorrow's walk was going to be 22 miles it was decided to add 5 miles to today's to make tomorrow's much shorter.  The weather was a lot better than we thought it was going to be; it was sunshine and a few showers with lots of wind.  The walkers more or less followed the river Swale and went a little up onto the dales for wonderful scenery (real James Herriot country) with easy walking into Richmond and then onto Catterick to finish at the racecourse.
Carol and I wandered around Reeth, a lovely large village with some interesting shops and coffee stops! 

Reeth village with an amazing backdrop.

We then drove to Richmond to try to meet up with the walkers as they passed through.  We parked about a mile outside the town next to the river, and walked along a fantastic path to the bridge at the bottom of the town.

Richmond castle

 We then walked up to the town  and amazingly met the walkers as they walked down the road into the town!  We all then went into the square and sat to have lunch by the monument.

Note the blue sky!!

 After lunch we all took a turn around the perimeter of the castle and then down to the bridge where the walkers carried on to Catterick and Carol and I went back along the river to the bus.

After we picked the walkers up from Catterick, we drove back to Kirkby Stephen via the A66 accross the Pennines. This road is notorious for bad weather; there were barriers that could be lowered to close the road in extreme weathers and as we drove along I was having to hold onto the steering wheel really well as the wind was very strong.  We could also see huge clouds of rain approaching from the west - it was quite spectacular.  I don't think any of the walkers noticed too much though as most of them were asleep!!  A stop at the Co-op again for a few more supplies - you've guessed it - wine, beer and bananas! 

 

Stonetrail cottages.

We move again tomorrow to Chappel Garth near Great Broughton, just south of Middlesbrough, so this will be the last leg of the journey and takes in the North Yorkshire moors.  I must say I have really enjoyed exploring the Yorkshire Dales and the lake district, I must come back soon.

 

We're keeping an eye on ewe.



Keld to Reeth

Day 8 started dry and quite cold.  We drove for 40 minutes to the start of the walk in Keld along the amazing thin and meandering road, which was quiet at that time in the morning so not too many cars to pass!  We all set off (including Carol and me) towards the Swale river which is to feature in the next couple of days walks as the route follows this river.  It is a beautiful river with small waterfalls and rushing water over rocks and stones.

Setting out - we have gained and extra man in this photo - his

girlfriend was taking the photo, and we keep spotting this

couple on the walk as they seem to be doing the same routes and

days as us.  In fact Carol and I met up with an American girl later

who was walking the coast to coast on her own (very brave), and

she had heard of our group as 'the large group with 2 girls driving

them about'!! - we're famous.

 

 

After a short while, the path splits and the main group took  the high road which went to explore the lead mines.  This is the route to take if the weather is ok.  The other route follows the river and is  recommended if the weather is bad.  Carol and I took the river route for a couple of miles before finding a bridge and path the other side of the river which lead gradually back to Keld.  We found a very small gate on the way, and I was jolly glad I didn't have that extra portion of pudding the night before!!



 

 



Exploring the lead mines.

 



Eventually we all met up in Reeth, a lovely village with a good tea shop.

 



 

Walter feeling the effects of the last week and

falling asleep after his cup of tea!!

 

We then set off for the long drive back to the house.  It is difficult to know what is the best route, so we opted for the slightly more main roads, but even these are slow going because of the all the bends.  But we did take a slight detour to look at the front of Skeldale House which featured in the 'All Creatures Great and Small' TV series.  - didn't have a chance to take a photo I'm afraid.

 

Amazingly no-one had wet boots today, but the forecast looks bad again tomorrow - even some talk of snow on higher ground, but I don't think they will be going too high!! 

 

Tonight Pat and I did yet another Sainsburys online shop which should arrive at our next accomodation on Tuesday.



Kirkby Stephen to Keld

Today the group set off just 6 miles from our houses, from Kirkby Stephen for a 12.5 mile walk.  They walked a gradual ascent to the 9 standards rigg.  The weather was rainy, as usual, and misty.  They made good time up to the standards but unfortunately there was no view due to the mist!!

Then the group encountered mud!  Mud, mud glorious mud and lots more mud - at times up to their calves.  So they have had the wettest day; the windiest day and now the muddiest day.  This went on for about 4 miles, but felt a lot more.  Eventually the rain stopped, and the mist lifted as they came down from the moors towards the road that led to Keld.  Today marked the half way point of the walk and also into a new county - North Yorkshire. 

After dropping the walkers off in Kirkby Stephen, Carol and I went shopping (again) for wine and beer - the cup final was looming this afternoon.  We then drove up towards Penrith and the Rheged Centre which is a huge indoor shopping, exhibition and 3D cinema complex.  It is set in rocks by the old lime kilns; quite a fascinating place where we saw the national geographic photographic competition entries.  After this we headed back towards Keld to pick everyone up.  After driving through Kirkby Stephen we went onto a narrow road that led wonderfully across the moors and dales - it's the kind of road you want Carol's mini to wizz along,; you could see the road winding around for huge distances.  The scenery was stunning and we are definately entering James Herriot country.  The weather brightened up and we stopped alongside the road for lunch whilst watching a helecopter doing a mountain rescue exercise.

We passed the walkers as they approached Keld and we found the tea shop where they very definately deserved tea and cake :)

 
The football was enjoyed by the boys, and apparently the best team won!

Shap to Kirkby Stephen

Today was a long walk of 20 miles and thankfully the weather was better, with just a bit of drizzle here and there with a little more rain just at the end.  I was able to join the walkers today - I certainly feel that I have had a walk tonight!!   Phil - Carol's Husband had visited for one night so Carol and Phil dropped us off at Shap and then went off to an Osprey viewing centre and saw an osprey sitting on a nest via a telescope, and there were web cams around to see others.

 

 

The walk took us initially over the M6 motorway and onto the moors which were beautiful with rolling hills (big ones!) and after about 7 miles into Orton to buy a pasty or sauceage roll.  It then took us back on the moors and up to Robin Hood's grave - apparently!

Eventually Kirkby Stephen was within reach, but we found these really quaint ponies looking over a gate.

Sorry - can't delete this picture for some reason!

 

 

 

 

We need a caption for this cheeky pony - 'you've walked how far?!!'    'you look a funny lot'    'what no food for me!!'  If anyone has any other captions do email or comment.

At day 6 of the walk there are some poorly looking bodies around here; moving is becoming a bit of a struggle, and feet are feeling the effect of walking 80 miles - only 100+ to go!!  Ibuprofen is being taken by quite a few.