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.

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.

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...

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)

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.

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.