Distance 11.7 miles
Climbing 1005 ft
Weather Fine & Sunny
Difficulty Moderate
Please click on image to expand.
Climbing 1005 ft
Weather Fine & Sunny
Difficulty Moderate
Please click on image to expand.
This was to be our last day but one and the weather was absolutely perfect for us. We arrived at Glaisdale Rigg at about 09.00 and a few minutes later we set of along the road to where the rough lane to Glaisdale turned off to the right overlooking the dale of Glaisdale. The road descends gently all the way to the village and although the surface is rather rough in places with several large potholes, it made easy walking to start our day.
When we arrived at Glaisdale we called in to see one of Mal’s friends and scrounged a cup of tea and a piece of cake while we had a natter before setting off again through the village and down to Beggars Bridge. From there we followed a pannier way through East Arncliff Woods as far as Delves and then followed the road to Egton Bridge where we crossed the river Esk using some substantial stepping stones behind the Horseshoe Inn before taking the former toll road (Barnards Road) to Grosmont. From the station the road climbs 670 ft along Fair Head Lane to Black Brow, in just over a mile. At the top we turned left along a track which according to the o.s. map leads to a disused quarry on Lowthers Crag. However in recent years it has reopened but can only be seen by scrambling up a high wall and taking a peep.
We now had a stretch of moorland to cross bisected by the A169 Pickering to Whitby road which in the holiday season carries a huge volume of traffic and on this section it can be very fast. This is adder country, I think I have seen more discarded adder skins here than anywhere else although to be fair I have never actually seen a live adder in the vicinity. The track we were following leads on to Littlebeck Lane and eventually into the village itself. Littlebeck is a pretty village but completely soulless, I have passed this way on many occasions and only seldom seen residents. There are no shops so locals are faced with a journey to Sleights or even Whitby for basic supplies and all three roads out of the village climb quite steeply and must become difficult at times in the winter.
John was waiting with the car when we arrived and took us back to our camp at Hawsker for the last night under canvas. After we had showered and rested we walked out to the Fox & Hounds where we were joined by our wives for a meal.
When we arrived at Glaisdale we called in to see one of Mal’s friends and scrounged a cup of tea and a piece of cake while we had a natter before setting off again through the village and down to Beggars Bridge. From there we followed a pannier way through East Arncliff Woods as far as Delves and then followed the road to Egton Bridge where we crossed the river Esk using some substantial stepping stones behind the Horseshoe Inn before taking the former toll road (Barnards Road) to Grosmont. From the station the road climbs 670 ft along Fair Head Lane to Black Brow, in just over a mile. At the top we turned left along a track which according to the o.s. map leads to a disused quarry on Lowthers Crag. However in recent years it has reopened but can only be seen by scrambling up a high wall and taking a peep.
We now had a stretch of moorland to cross bisected by the A169 Pickering to Whitby road which in the holiday season carries a huge volume of traffic and on this section it can be very fast. This is adder country, I think I have seen more discarded adder skins here than anywhere else although to be fair I have never actually seen a live adder in the vicinity. The track we were following leads on to Littlebeck Lane and eventually into the village itself. Littlebeck is a pretty village but completely soulless, I have passed this way on many occasions and only seldom seen residents. There are no shops so locals are faced with a journey to Sleights or even Whitby for basic supplies and all three roads out of the village climb quite steeply and must become difficult at times in the winter.
John was waiting with the car when we arrived and took us back to our camp at Hawsker for the last night under canvas. After we had showered and rested we walked out to the Fox & Hounds where we were joined by our wives for a meal.