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.

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.