Tuesday 29 December 2009

Festive walk: Leavening - 27th December 2009

A short walk near Leavening helped to relieve a few of those festive pounds, and was enjoyed by ten brave enough to face the snow and cold.

Sunday 13 December 2009

Black Hambleton - Sunday 13th December











Eighteen souls plus one dog met in the tiny village of Nether Silton for an eight mile circular walk. Having seen sun, rain and a rainbow enroute to the village, none of us was quite sure what to expect.

This walk was in the Hambleton Hills on the far western edge of the North Yorkshire Moors National Park. The main feature of the walk was the heather moorland typical of the park as Black Hambleton is a blanket of heather.

There were brief but lovely views from the summit of Black Hambleton which were otherwise cloaked in low cloud, and we followed the Cleveland way for a while before descending back down in to the valley and back to Nether Silton.

Definitely one to revisit in better weather to enjoy the expansive heather and views.

Monday 9 November 2009

Hole of Horcum - Sunday 8th November











A record twenty-four people plus one dog arrived in Levisham for our walk to, through and around the Hole of Horcum.

The walk started via a muddy, sloping path to the south of the village, which wound its way towards the Hole of Horcum, an ancient hollow in the ground caused by the actions of a giant/large sheet of ice during the last ice age.

As we arrived at the abandoned farmers cottage the rain started. Lunch was had in the shelter of the cottage.

As we headed up and out of the Hole of Horcum, the rain stopped and blue skies came into view. Upon reaching the top of the slope, we turned left and along the edge of the Hole, back towards Levisham, arriving in good time for beer and chips from the Horseshoe pub.

Once again, a wonderful walk with great company.

Tuesday 29 September 2009

Thixendale - Sunday 11th October, 2009




Fourteen souls plus Lady the Westie arrived in Thixendale on Sunday morning, ready for a walk through lovely rolling dales and vales.

We headed out of Thixendale towards Thixen Dale, past geese and sheep for a slow climb up the hill to the old Roman road. The Roman road afforded us excellent views across the Vale of York, where unlike our position, it seemed a lovely and sunny day. The path then headed downhill to Kirby Underdale, a tiny village with a lovely old Norman church, including an ancient stone showing an image of Mercury. Perhaps the grounds of the church previously housed a place of worship to a very different God.

After lunch in the church grounds and an appearannce by the sun we headed out of the village and back into the rolling countryside. Heading back towards Thixendale, we headed across pasture, a group of peacoccks and into Worm Dale, where we had tea in the sun as we watched the sheep (or was it the other way round?)

Finally, we made our way back into Thixendale for a welcome cup of tea and scone in the village hall. All in all, a lovely walk in the autumn sunshine.

Monday 28 September 2009

Weekend walk in Lake District - 25-27 September 2009




When you visit the Lake District you can but hope for dry let alone good weather. Our group of eight intrepid explorers were not to be disappointed.

We arrived on the Friday evening in Rosthwaite, each with tales of 'homely' B&B's in which we were staying. Modern conveniences were not to hand, but as the weekend progressed, we all came to appreciate the good food and hospitality on offer. The evening was spent in the Riverside Bar, where ample food and beer were comsumed.

Saturday morning was dry with high cloud. We started the walk from Honister Pass car park and headed up into the hills towards Haystacks. The walk was quite easy with wonderful views down towards Buttermere, Crummock Water and Ennerdale Water. Lunch was taken at the peak, along with dozens of others doing a similar route. With the sun coming out, a decision was taken to include two more peaks in our route - Brandreth and Grey Knotts - we even provided temporary respite for two lost Lancashire souls until we reunited them with their group. Being consumed in conversation does not always go hand in hand with keeping on your route, as we also found out later in the day. Modern GPS technology was to come to our rescue.

After returning to the car park, we headed back to our B&B's for a well deserved bath, followed by a trip into Keswick for an even more deserved curry - a great way to end a wonderful day.

On Sunday we decided to take more gentle route via Castle Crags (a scramble up slate slag, which offered breathtaking views of Derwent Water and Keswick in the distance) into Grange for lunch, in a wonderfully located cafe on the bedrock of the River Derwent. After lunch, we returned along the banks of the river into Rosthwaite. Again the weather was kind and we all returned home with only seeing a slight dampness on Sunday morning.

All in all, a wonderful weekend. Come one Oddsocks, lets be having you at next year's weekend walks!




More pics to follow upon receipt from the official photographer...

Monday 14 September 2009

Market Weighton - Sunday 13th September 2009







8 walkers & 1 dog were on the walk. Of those, 3 walkers (Rachael, Jane & Shelley) & the dog (lady) were welcome new recuits.

The walk started on the flat as we made our way along along the disused railway east out of Market Weighton before we started a steady but gentle climb following part of the Wolds Way through Goodmanham and on to Londesborough. After a walk around this lovely village we returned to Market Weighton following another branch of the Wolds Way.

The weather was dry (apart from a few spots at lunch) but people's reaction to the temperature was varied with some choosing hats & fleeses while others chose shorts & short sleeved blouses! (See picture)

Thursday 23 July 2009

Ripley - Sunday 9th August 2009







Chaos at the start, as the normally quiet car park at Ripley was heaving with cars visiting the fair and exhibiton in the neighbouring field. However, 14 people & 2 dogs met up to start the walk.

The walk took us west along the banks of the river Nidd towards Hampsthwaite with only a minor glitch as we had to double back over a tricky stile. We paused by the beautiful saxon church in the village before moving on to Birstwith and a refreshing drink in the local hostelry and then lunch by the banks of the Nidd. Shortly after we reached the Packhorse Bridge where we crossed the river and headed north and then east across fields to Clift and finally returning to Ripley.

John had to be punished for sitting in a cow pat, but fortunately for him we had all eaten our tomatoes for lunch.

Tuesday 14 July 2009

Ravenscar - 14th June 2009

The skies were grey as we made our way to Ravenscar. Would the weather forecast prove to be right, needing the wearing of weatherproofs?

As it happens it was dry, however stories of tick bearing Lyme disease soon had legs covered up as we progressed along the old railway track on the first leg of our walk. The sun came out whilst we were under the trees and we even had a brief shower, but nothing to cause and outbreak of coats.

Echos of the railway that used to travel through these parts was in evidence - old platforms, station houses and remnants of signal boxes - you could almost hear the steam and whistle. The story goes that the Ravenscar Estate Company bought this land in the 1890's with a view to building a seaside resort to rival Whitby, but it never happened, hence the nickname 'the town that never was'.

At the end of the railway track, we arrived at the Hayburn Wyke pub for a welcome refreshment quickly followed by lunch on the rocks at the bottom of Hayburn Wyke, whilst watching a couple of springer spaniels playing amongst seaweed and pebbles.

Finishing lunch, we climbed steaply up to the cliff-top some 400ft above sea level with stunning views south towards Scarborough and Flamborough Head - wonderful. However, our path took us north back towards Ravenscar. Before long we had views of the old naval radar station and then Robin Hood's Bay before arrving back at the Ranvenscar tea rooms for a welcome tea and cake.

Tuesday 16 June 2009

Whitwell on the Hill - 14th June 2009




Fourteen souls plus three dogs joined us in the village of Whitwell on the Hill for a wonderful day's walking.

The sun was out and the sky was blue but it was not raining - oh no. We had wonderful June weather despite a forecast for someting more gloomy.

We started by making our way over fields heading towards Castle Howard and arriving in Welburn, having enjoyed some magnificent views of the estate and numerous follies.

We then turned right, crossed the A64 and arrived via a wooded slope down past the railway track into Kirkham, where lunch and ice creams were consumed in the shade of the priory ruins.

Upon leaving Kirkham, our first serious climb up a muddy slope was made all the more challengin having a stomach full of lunch washed down with tea or coffee. At the top we then headed towards Crambe before crossing the A64 again and finishing in Whitwell on the Hill.

Those with tough constitutions met up again in the evening for an Indian buffet near Poppleton - recommended.

Until next time.

Tuesday 12 May 2009

Sutton Bank - 10th June 2009
















Eleven (including 2 new faces) + 1 dog set off from Sutton Bank in overcast but dry conditions. Concerns about the state of the path after the recent rains were unfounded and a safe decent was made to Lake Goremire where the first photos were taken.

We then made our way over to Boltby, stopping half way there for a refreshment break shortly after braving inquisitive cows who wandered over towards us. The target was set of reaching the top of Boltby Scar for lunch. There was some dissent in the group about Keith’s definition of a ‘moderate’ climb but this subsided as people struggled for breath on the way up! Everyone did make it though and lunch was well earned and enjoyed. As a reward for our efforts, the rain, which was threatening, held off. – And the views were worth it.

A final group photo was taken at the top before we set off along the Cleveland Way with a final aerial view of Lake Goremire before returning to Sutton Bank. (It should be noted that the ‘official photographer’ (Sally) deserves praise for getting the picture of the stationary dog as he was rarely still all day.)

Wednesday 25 March 2009

Settrington - Sunday 12th April 2009











As a family, we avoid the coastal roads on Easter weekend, specially Easter Sunday but for the sake of the ‘Oddsocks’ we sat in the traffic all the way from the gym to Malton bypass arriving at the start point 30 mins late.

What joy to find other Oddsocks had arrived already. We were 9 altogether and two dogs. We set off at about 11.30.

The route took us from the community centre car park past the gates of Settrington House and into the valleys and hill sides that twist and fold around here in a most unusual way.

The views from the high points over the vale of York were splendid and the heads of the valleys formed natural amphitheatres.

We climbed one such valley head called Fizgig Hill. We stopped for lunch on Bassett Brow where a bench had been kindly placed for us to enjoy the view across the relatively flat farmland to the North EastBoth dogs seemed well behaved to me but then near the end of the walk our dog Kelby disgraced himself by chasing some chickens, only stopping when I rugby tackled him to the ground – feathers everywhere.!!

We walked through the village with its green each side of a clear tinkling brook and ford, daffodils in abundance.

Wednesday 11 February 2009

Thixendale - 8th March 2009











The walk started in beautiful sunshine as 9 + 2 dogs were soon warmed up by the climb out of the village. Conditions underfoot were quite firm so good progress was made along the Wolds Way. We stopped for a group photo after 2.43 miles (or at least 10 miles if you happened to be one of the dogs) and asked some following walkers to take a photo of the whole group – only to find it was 3 more Oddsocks who had missed the start! So 12 +2 now headed off towards Warram Percy and a well earned lunch break. After a quick inspection of the church, lunch was had in its lea before we set off on the return leg.

At this point the sun started to disappear behind some thickening clouds and by the time we got out of Deep dale valley the first spots of rain were starting to fall. It did stop for a short time but soon returned as we retraced out path along Raisthorpe Wold. This time it did not stop and soon turned to snow being driven by a strong westerly wind. At this point we were walking south so everyone was white on one side only!

The weather finally eased as we got the bottom of Court Dale and the sun was even starting to break through as we arrived back in Thixendale.

According to the GPS we had walked 7.91 miles in 2hrs & 50 minutes. One advantage of this faster than planned walk, was that the pub in Thixendale was still open. We therefore adjourned to it for a drink and a huddle around the fire before heading back home.

To summarise, this walk started and ended in sunshine with a good variety of wintery conditions in between. Definitely no cobwebs left after this one!

Sunday 8 February 2009

Levisham - Sunday 8th February 2009
















Fifteen brave souls plus one adventurous labrador arrived in Levisham, having successfully navigated the snow and ice on the one-in-five hill approaching the village. I for one was sure the car wouldn't make it.

We set off on the path heading towards Newton on Rawcliffe and above the railway for the North York Moors Railway, before turning right and heading north towards the Hole of Horcum. Having had half an inch of fresh snow over night made the surface crisp and crunchy underfoot. No trains running today - not sure whether this was due to the conditions or simply being out of season. Anyhow, it would have been a treat to see a steam train making its way trhough the snow-covered moors.

We made our way along Levisham Bottoms and stopped for a break at Skelton Tower, bathed in sunshine and with magnificant views along the valley.

We then set off again towards the Hole of Horcum, however the going got tougher and it was agreed we should shorten the walk. This resulted in a climb up the West Side Brow hillside through snow, at times over a foot deep. Once we reached the top, lunch was had overlooking the valley.

After lunch, we continued along the hilltop, and despite losing the path in the snow (and thus going approriately 'off-piste') we found our way back the main path near Dundale Rigg, before heading back towards Levisham. Upon arrival back in the village, the temperatures had dropped considerably and so the decision was taken to driven over to Lockton before stopping for a drink, so as to avoid the possibility of getting stuck on the steep road out fo the villages.

Despite the consitions, we had a wonderful walk. It is not often you get the chance to see the moors under snow - have a look at the pics to see what you missed!












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Tuesday 13 January 2009

Possible weekend walks in the summer

During our last walk in Terrington at the weekend a number of you showed interest in organising a weekend away for wlaks in say the Lakes.

Is there genuine interest in doing this sort of thing?

The walks would be set at a moderate level to allow everyone to participate, although if there is sufficient interest in doing one of the higher peaks we could split the group into two and have two walk leaders. The idea is to make the walks inclusive, so wish to listen to all opinions and make it work for everyone within reason.

An itinerary might look like the following:

Friday: arrive at location and check into B&B/hotel/hostel (individuals responisble for organising their own accomodation). Meet for dinner/drink.

Alternatively, people may prefer to travel over Saturday morning to meet at the allotted walk start time on Saturday morning - normally 10am.

Saturday: walk of 6-10 miles in length. Dinner/drinks/free time in evening.

Sunday: shorter walk of 5-6 miles in the morning, leaving time for lunch and travel back to York.

Suggested locations include: Lakes - north near Keswick or south near Conistan, Teeside, Northumberland, Derbyshire dales - any others? Suggested months: June, July, August or September.

Let me know your thoughts and if there is enough interest, we can look into organising something.

Perhaps we can discuss further on the Levisham walk in February as well.

Terrington - Sunday 11th January 2009

What looked like it could be a wet day turned out to be mild and dry as the group of sixteen headed south out of Terrington and towards Mowthorpe. As we reached the end of a long lane we were greeted by a wonderful view across the Mowthorpe Dale, before turing right and heading towards High Stittenham.

Navigation was a little tricky around this area due to the poor upkeep of path signs, meaning that the reccy the previous weekend often came to the rescue in ensuring a six mile walk didn't turn into twelve. Anyhow, despite the mud and lack of signposts, we found our way into the village.

High Stittenham has grown recently due to the conversion of a number of barns into accomodation, leading to the moving of the footpath thus adding more confusion.

Onto a brighter note, the group stopped as we headed north-east out of the village for some lunch whilst overlooking Mowthorpe Dale. After lunch we continued on our journey back towards Mowthrope and then on towards Ganthorpe. Just before Ganthorpe we turned left and headed back to Terrington.

The rain had held off and our dry but muddy group finished the walk with a rewarding drink at the Bay Horse Inn, which has its own brewery.