Walkweb

Almost there…just two days to go. This was another pleasant if rather grey day, we got the first (and only) real rain for the entire walk, it bucketed down not long after we left Blakey Ridge.

The route starts with a bit of a road bash across the moors – there wasn’t much traffic thankfully – and then follows a vehicular track into Glaisdale. From here there was a very muddy section through East Arncliff Wood before entering Egton Bridge. A short walk then leads into Grosmont on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway, with plenty of steam trains operating to keep both young and old enthusiasts happy.

A steep climb afterwards before levelling out and providing the first views of the east coast and north sea, with a fine prospect down towards Whitby. After this, a short walk downhill into Littlebeck. We didn’t go right down into the village as we were staying at Intake Farm, along with another seven c2c’ers making for a packed dining table that night.

(Total distance approx. 17 miles)

Link to Coast to Coast Summary

A great day, especially after the boredom of the previous day. Great views from the edge of the moors across the moors and valleys, particularly fine views across to Roseberry Topping, and Cook’s monument was also visible. The moors were quite bleak, but I like this. The heather was brown but will explode into purple during Autumn – this area protects the largest expanse of heather moorland in Europe.

From Osmotherly, rather than tracking back to Arncliffe Wood to meet the official c2c track, we took a slightly different route along the road that leads north out of Osmotherly, past the Cod Beck reservoir, eventually picking up the official path as it crosses this road and enters Clain Wood. If staying in Osmotherly, this variation can be recommended.

The path follows the high ground for most of the rest of the day with continual good views if the weather allows. The Lord Stones cafe can be recommended as a good spot for morning tea or an early lunch.

The final part of the day, along a disused railway alignment, did start to drag towards the end – moors very bleak at this point and the weather had become very dark and grey, threatening to rain although it never did (that would come tomorrow). Thankfully, Blakey provided both an excellent B&B, with magnificent views from its en-suite room across the moors, and a lovely old pub where I had a nice curry (actually that’s all Blakey is, a pub and a B&B).

(Total distance approx. 19 miles)

Link to Coast to Coast Summary

A very long day of over 21 miles, and the most boring of the walk – an endless series of roads, tracks and footpaths through fields. Also included a particularly unattractive but mercifully brief section along the A167, and a dangerous crossing of the A19. To top it off, the pub at Danby Wiske was shut, and there were no other options for lunch.

It was a relief to enter the Arncliffe woods and the final part of the walk with the promise of a more interesting route over the last few days.

We stayed just off the path in Osmotherly, an attractive little village at the edge of the North York Moors National Park. Some people break this stage into two, but I was very pleased to get it over with in one hit.

(Total distance approx. 21.5 miles)

Link to Coast to Coast Summary

The final day of the Yorkshire Dales, before reaching the very attractive market town of Richmond.

This was a relatively short and undemanding day. Overall, I’d describe it as ‘pleasant’, mainly field walking but some good views and surroundings; there was a nice spot underneath Applegarth Scar to stop for a morning cuppa. Lunch we had in Richmond, we also had a look around the castle as we had plenty of time.

Rather than stay in Richmond, we walked on to St Giles farm near Catterick Bridge to reduce the mileage for the following day. There we had an enjoyable dinner, cooked by our hosts, with a couple doing the c2c and also staying at the farm.

(Total distance approx. 10.5 miles)

Link to Coast to Coast Summary

A lovely day above Swaledale with classic Yorkshire countryside – moors, dales, drystone walls and barns.

James Herriot’s Yorkshire, a pictorial book authored by the late English vet many years ago and with photos by Derry Brabbs (who subsequently went on to take the photos for many books produced with Alfred Wainwright) gives a very good overview of this area. He calls Swaledale “the most beautiful part of England”; at the risk of being a traitor to my county of birth I’m not sure I’d go quite that far, but it is undeniably attractive. Herriott also describes, in the “Youth Hostels” chapter of the book, a walk that visits Keld, where he stayed at the Keld Lodge (then a Youth Hostel) and then continues along the current c2c route past Crackpot Hall, a former shooting lodge, and the Swinner Gill Lead Mines through to Melbecks Moor, at which point he turns to Gunnerside and eventually reaches Reeth.

At Melbecks Moor we continued east across the top of the moors and suddenly found ourselves joined by many others – but runners not walkers – it being the day of the Swaledale Marathon, and when we reached Reeth it was packed with runners recuperating in the various pubs which were also filled with spectators and supporters.

Because of the marathon, Reeth’s accomodations were fully booked, so we continued on to a small village called Marrick for the evening.

(Total distance approx. 15 miles)

Link to Coast to Coast Summary