Day 15 Egton Bridge To Robin Hoods Bay - The Final Leg

Another fine day for the final leg into Robin Hoods Bay.

We followed Esk Dale down to Grosmont then crossed our final moor down
onto the coast. We found robin hoods bay nestling on the coast and
rammed with day trippers.

Not to be put off we followed the crowds down the long steps and
narrow streets onto the beach - threw our stones into the sea that we
carried all the way from St Bees and headed for Wainwrights Bar.

All said and done - a fantastic walk, a great way to see the North of
England and something everyone who is reasonably fit should have a go
at.

We turned for home and found Helen waiting to give us a lift home -
ice cream in hand :) a welcome sight!!

Day 14 Beak Hill to Egton Bridge - The Sock Wars

Wow what a day today. Brilliant blue skies, fab views but a very long
way!!

We left the farm early at 7.30 and soon passed over the wainstones and
had lunch at the lion inn. By mid afternoon we were extremely tired
and the day was hot but spirits were lifted seeing the coast in the
distance from the top of glaisdale moor.

A few good pints at egton bridge and some brilliant lamb cutlets later
and all is well in the world.

We are all glad that we are finishing tomorrow as the clothes
situation, particularly the socks is getting a bit desperate!! Clean
clothes have now been redefined as clothes that have been warn but do
not smell. The usual start to each day is to pick up random items of
clothing and give them a sniff to classify if they are 'clean'!!!

A mention for the Geordies who finished today - well done john for not
losing davey on the last day. Thanks for the texts letting us know
how you got on.

Can not wait to finish tomorrow. Looking forward to seeing the sea
and mostly my wife Helen who has very kindly offered to pick us up
from robin hoods bay xxx

Day 13 - Osmotherley to Chop Gate, into the wilds

Another blisteringly hot day. A fabulous day to start from osmotherly
this morning and head off along the northern ridge of our final
national park - the north Yorkshire moors.

We climbed out of osmotherley and took our time crossing the various
moors as the first leg of the last national park was only 12 miles.

At mid afternoon we descended down to the rather cheap accommodation
at beak hill farm. We had a very warm welcome from the farmers wife
lynn who showed us into the rather small and untidy house. Our first
impression was one of shock at how small and cramped it was - however
this was just half the story.

The farm is a hard working live stock farm and the family here has a
very fulfilled but tough life in the high moors. They do not make a
huge amount of money from what they do but what they have they will
share. That means sharing all the usual welfare facilities with the
family here but it comes with a wealth of stories, cups of tea and
general love of life.

We have now gone to bed but the farmers wife has to stay up all night
to watch a horse that needs to fowl tonight. So not only will she be
up every hour to watch the horse but be up at 6 to make our lunch and
breakfast. (apparently they all get up at 5 anyway in the summer!! )

Anyway better get some sleep - we have a big day tomorrow, 24 miles to
get to egton bridge. Could be thirsty work :-)

Day 12 - Danby Wiske to Osmotherley, Towards The Moors

Today we finished off the vale of mowbray which is a good thing.
Because it is flat and pretty dull.

There were 2 good points to today. 1. We got to walk with a bunch of
Aussies who we spoke about cricket with :) 2. We finished at
osmotherley which is a great place to spend a few hours.

So finishing the vale we wondered up into the foot hills of the north
Yorkshire moors. Another warm day with blue skies so we headed off to
have a look at mount grace priory. See pictures. A really
interesting place built around what looks like a cricket square!! I
was informed later on that nuns don't play cricket.

Anyway off into osmotherly for a few pints and then down to the yha
(thankfully nothing like Kirkby Stephen !!)

Starting the final leg tomorrow - crossing the moors. I can nearly
smell the sea!!

Interesting Fact - The Black Bull

The black bull at great smeaton ( where we stayed last night) was once
a 17th century jail. The most famous inmate was one dick Turpin who
was held there when finally captured. He was held for 3 days at the
black bull before being transferred to York where he was tried and hung.

His horse - black Bess - was taken into the yard at the back and shot
then buried in the rear field ( now the car park).

There you go - entertainment and knowledge all on the blog!!!

Day 11 - Richmond to Danby Wiske, Leaving The Dales

We left Richmond this morning on a rather wet day. We followed the
river Swale for a good few miles all the way to catterick.

The scenerary changed quickly from dry stone walls to hedges. No
sheep just miles and miles of agricultural land. This is the vale of
mowbray a fertile strip of land that sits between the dales and the
moors. An area that we must cross to reach the little hamlet of
osmotherley on the edge of the north Yorkshire moors.

We put a good hole in the miles required to make the crossing - some
15 miles today - and are now resting (and drinking!!) in the black
bull at great smeaton.

Brekfast orders have been taken and I am getting back on the wagon
tomorrow - the full monty will be eaten. I got a bit posh this
morning and had smoked salmon, scrambled eggs and toasted muffins but
ted gave us a talking to and I will be back on it tomorrow!!

Anyway off to bed ready for the upcoming warm weather ( fingers crossed)

Richard Osbond
BWB Consulting
Sent from my iPhone