Saturday 31 December 2011

Hawnby - Sunday 8th January 2012

The first walk of 2012 is as follows:

Location: Hawnby

Start: 11am

Date: Sunday 8th January

Leader: Mike

Level of difficullty: Easy

Distance: 7 miles

Directions: Turn left to the village of Hawnby 6 miles north of Helmsley on the Helmsley/Stokesley Road. Roadside parking space at Hawnby Church which is nearly 1/2 mile west of the village on the Kepwick road.

The walk goes to the little known valley of Thorodale. Great diversity of terrain on the walk - with upland pasture, open moor, river bank and woodland. Great scenery!

Enjoy!

Wednesday 30 November 2011

Tockwith and River Nidd - Sunday 11th December

The last walk of the year precedes a festive Christmas dinner at Tea on the Green. If you haven't booked your place, get in touch quickly as places are running out fast.

Details of the walk as follows:

Location: Tockwith and River Nidd

Date: Sunday 11th December

Start: 11am from centre of Tockwith village

Leader: Alison

Distance: 5.5 miles

Time: 2.5 hours

Level of difficulty: Easy (nice and flat)

This gentle walk covers tracks between the village of Tockwith and the River Nidd. The middle stretch of the walk follows the river along one of its meanders, with views of the Vale of York. Towards the end of the walk the route passes near the site of the Civil War battlefield of Marston Moor.

After the walk, many of the group members will be having a Christmas meal at Tea on the Green, a small cafe on Acomb Green.

If you have not already done so, and you wish to attend, contact us to ask to be included. Advance booking is required to allow the cafe to plan to cater for all group members.

Friday 4 November 2011

Goathland - Sunday 13th November 2011

Location: Goathland

Date: Sunday 13th November

Leader: Mike

Start: 11am - Meet at Goathland - opposite Mallyan Spout Hotel

Distance: 8 miles

Level of difficulty: moderate

Splendid walk down to Mallyan Spout waterfall, which spills 70ft into West Beck
Then onto Beckhole and Grosmont, North Yorks Moors Railway Station and walk back on George Stephenson's original horse-drawn tramway of 1836. What fine walkways these old tracks make.

Tuesday 4 October 2011

Byland Abbey and Cockerdale - Sunday 9th Oct

Location: Byland Abbey and Cockerdale

Date: Sunday 9th Oct 2011

Walk Leader: Anders Ekstrand (Mobile: 07923516499)

Start: We meet at the west front of the abbey, opposite the Abbey Inn, at about 11 am, or at Bannatynes at 10 am. I will have a couple of seats spare in my car.

Distance: Approx 6 miles.

Level of difficulty: Should be an easy walk according to the guide (the first time I’m doing it).

Approx Time: 3 hours

Refreshments/Toilets: Toilets, and food-drinks, at Abbey Inn or at pub in Wass.

General description: Varied and undemanding circular walk. We will climb steadily through conifer plantations and forest to the open expanses of Byland Moor. From there, we will descend through more woodland to Olstead before returning across open fields, where there is a fine view of the west front of the abbey towards the end of the walk. Hopefully there will be a pub visit too as the grand finale.

Looking forward to seeing you!

Monday 5 September 2011

Boroughbridge - Sunday 11th September, 11am start

Location: Boroughbridge

Date: Sunday 11th September

Start: 11am at car park off Beck Lane, Boroughbridge (or meet at 10am at Bannatyne's gym)

Leader: Keith

Level of difficulty: Easy

This is a very easy 7 mile walk along the banks of the Ure. It is flat, with no hills whatsoever.
Entering Boroughbridge on the B6265 from Green Hammerton, the road turns sharply to the left.

Approx 100m after the bend look for Back Lane which is the first turning on the RIGHT.

The Car Park entrance is approx 150m on the right.

We will be walking into Borougbridge to the river before following the river downstream.

Anyone missing the car park can pick us up on the bridge.

Thursday 23 June 2011

Fountain Abbey - Sunday 10th July 2011

Location: Fountains Abbey

Date: Sunday 10th July 2011

Time: 11am at Fountains Abbey Car park (or meet in Bannatynes Gym reception at 10.00am for those wishing to lift share)

Leader: Bridie Durcan

Distance: 7 miles

Level of difficulty: Easy, moderate in places

Approx time: 4 hours

Approx one and a half miles of road walking, at the end of the walk, but the roads are fairly quiet in that area.

Reasonably dog friendly, although last time I walked it there were a lot of fields with cows.

Refreshments available in the visitor center afterwards.

Thursday 19 May 2011

Next walk: Warter on the Wolds - Sunday 12th June

The following provides details of the next walk organised by the Oddsocks:

•Start: Warter on the Wolds (meet in the middle of the village)

•Time: 11am at Warter on the Wolds - meet in school car park (or meet in Bannatynes Gym reception at 9.30am for those wishing to lift share)

•Date: Sunday 12th June

•Walk leader: Keith Emmerson

•Distance: 8 miles

•Level of difficulty: Easy, moderate in places

Warter is on the B1247 approx 5 miles east of Pocklington.

Turn right in the centre of Warter & follow the road through the village (I think it is signposted to Nunburnholme). The school carpark is approx 200m on the right.

The walk will be approx 9 miles. Nothing too steep with a only a short drop into 1 dale and then a steady climb out of it.

Approx 3 miles of road walking.

Reasonably dog friendly.

Wednesday 27 April 2011

Weekend walks for 2011

The dates have at last been set for the weekend walks for 2011 as follows:

Bamburgh area, Northumberland - Fri 3 to Sun 5 June

Accomodation location: Belford (numerous b&b available - arrange own accomodation.

Arrive Friday evening, walk full day on Saturday, shorter walk on Sunday before departing in the afternoon.


Yorkshire Dales - Fri 30 September to Sun 2 October

Accomodation location: Middleham (numerous b&b available - arrange own accomodation.

Arrive Friday evening, walk full day on Saturday, shorter walk on Sunday before departing in the afternoon.

Next walk: Whitby and Saltwick Bay - Sunday 8th May 2011

Walk Leader: Anders Ekstrand (Mobile: 07923516499)

Start: We meet at the car park to the east side of Whitby Abbey at about 11 am, or at Bannatynes at 10 am. I will have a couple of seats spare in my car.

To get to the car park at Whitby Abbey: follow A171 driving east, crossing bridge over River Esk at Whitby. At the end of bridge turn left and then, after a couple of hundred metres, turn right up the hill through housing estate to T-junction at the top. Car park is to the left of junction. Pay and Display parking.

Distance: Approx 7 miles.

Level of difficulty: Easy.

Approx Time: 3.5 hours

Refreshments/Toilets: Toilets at car park. Drinks/food in Whitby after walk.

General description: Circular walk. We will follow inland footpaths to Whitestone Point where we then turn back towards Whitby on the coastal path presenting wonderful views. Time to have fish & chips and a pint in Whitby afterwards.

Looking forward to seeing you!

Monday 28 March 2011

The Iron Valley of Rosedale - Sunday 10th April 2011



  • Start: Rosedale (meet in the middle of the village)


  • Time: 11am at Rosedale (or meet in Bannatynes Gym reception at 9.30am for those wishing to lift share)


  • Date: Sunday 10th April


  • Walk leader: Steve Poile


  • Distance: 8 miles


  • Level of difficulty: Easy, moderate in places


  • Refreshments: Cafe and pub in Rosedale
This is a wonderful walk full of the history of these hills and their opening up to mining in the 1800s to extract the ironstone. Much of the buildings and equipment can still be seen despite its closure in 1926. For those interested, ask to read my book along the walk - it is fascinating how hardy people set up home here to mine the land for only a few harsh decades.

Wednesday 2 March 2011

Next walk: Glimpses of Coneysthrope

The March walk is fast approaching - so here are the details - hope to see you on Sunday:

Location: Coneysthrope (meet at the entrance to the cross roads car park)

Date: Sunday 13 March

Time: 11am start (or 10am at Bannatynes gym - please let me know if anyone is seeking to lift share from the gym, so that I may put you in touch with each other)

Distance: 7-8 miles

Level of difficulty: Easy

Walk leader: Ali Ward

Glimpses of Castle Howard and it is 7 and a half miles, starting from Coneysthorpe crossroads car park. The walk goes west through woods, up onto the ridge, along the top.and then down to Coneysthorpe and back to where we started.

It should be lovely if the bluebells are out, or will it be a bit early?

It also might be rather wet on top, unless we have a prolonged dry spell - we can live in hope!

There's the cafe at Castle Howard(and toilets!!) for a post walk drink.

Friday 28 January 2011

Barwick in Elmet

Location: Barwick in Elmet

Date: Sunday 13th February 2011

Time: 11am from village centre

Leader: Keith Emmerson

Distance: 7 miles

Level of difficulty: Easy


We will make our way over to Aberford and return via a different route.

Approaching Barwick in Elmet from the A64 takes you into the village and in the centre there is a massive flag pole. Follow the main road to the left of the pole and park up anywhere around the next junction / fork in the road.

Monday 3 January 2011

Helmsley - Sunday 9th January 2011

Happy new year to you all.

The first walk of 2011 is fast approaching - details below:

Location: Helmsley - meet at front of main car park

Date: Sunday 9th January

Time: 11am start

Distance: 7 miles

Level of difficulty: Easy

An easy walk ad the start of the Cleveland Way - passes Duncombe Park, through Whinney Bank Wook towards Reveulx Abbey and village.