Coast to Coast walk for the homeless. Day 15

Grosmont to Robin Hood’s Bay

Grosmont station

On the last day we we set off walking together from our B and B in Grosmont. Sadly, COVID seems to have had an effect on the town with the pub and several B and Bs suffering and in danger of closing down. This is bad news for the town as the tourists bring in a lot of money to the area.

There is a steam train running frequently through the town and the woods and moor land surrounding the area makes for happy walking. So. If you want a little break maybe try visiting this area.

The wildlife is abundant compared to the southeast with the noisy chatter of birds ever present in the day. Flocks of sparrows fly from hedge to hedge.

The woods are lush

Dating from the 18th century, we came across the Hermitage. The woods provided the hermit with food, fuel , shelter and building materials. And he seems to be doing alright!!!

The hermit of Falling foss

Whitby abbey was a constant companion during the day.

At the coast but still 3 miles to Robin Hood’s Bay!

And finally my ice cream

If anyone would like to give to the Bridge trust after reading the story of our walk please follow the link. https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/jacqui-bart-coast2coast

The End

Coast to Coast walk for the homeless. Day 14

Blakey Ridge to Grosmont

On the whole an easy days walking today, starting off on road and mainly flat. After 4 miles the route turned on to a moorland track with sheep guarding the way! Lovely up here with a strong smell of gorse at points.

After Glaisdale the route became wooded with occasional descents, which Bart hard to later ascend!! The smells became those of bluebells and wild garlic. The horse chestnuts were in flower and looking spectacular. Orchids along the roadside were bright sparks of purple or pink in the green.

Although the walking was easy I was very glad to arrive at a lovely B and B and get the weight off!

Tomorrow is looking anything but flat. Wish me luck!

Cheeky and foxy did a mountain climb!

Coast to Coast walk for the homeless. Day 13

Clay Bank top to Blackey Ridge

After yesterday’s ordeal I was glad to see that today’s walk was an easy 9 miles. The weather started OK and despite low cloud we got the odd view. It was a colder day than many and I put on a long sleeve top under my jacket.

It is a strange feeling to think that we are close to having walked clean across the country. Obviously there have been roads, most notably the M6  crossed by a bridge but also the A19 crossed by patience and then going for it!, But on the whole we have walked through countryside and villages. We have seen lots of wildlife, mainly birds with the call of grouse being present most days and the lapwing being very abundant.

My knowledge ( or lack of it) limits the number of varieties that I was aware of. Hares and rabbits, stoats and moles were present in large numbers.

The humans we met were predominantly tourists from the USA, Australia, New Zealand most of whom had travelled here for the sole purpose of walking this famous route and enjoying the fantastic countryside.  I can not say they were young or old, superfit etc. They were from all walks of life, all ages. Some will finish in 12 days or less, some have put in rest days and short days. But all are enjoying the scenery and the quiet, and the passing company of like minded souls.

We saw another group of four people who were walking for a charity but most were doing it for their own personal reasons. Some had bad hips, knees etc. But they still walked and chatted.

My feet have a few blisters and will be pleased to arrived at Robin Hood’s Bay. But I will be planning another long distance walk for the future as the whole experience has been positive.

We have been surprised by the generosity of strangers and the continued encouragement of our friends back home and from round the world. Our total has risen steadily during the two weeks and we have another fundraiser when we get back.

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/jacqui-bart-coast2coast

Coast to Coast walk for the homeless. Day 12

Ingleby Cross to Clay Bank top.

Today started with Bart leaving to take the car to the end point. The idea being that he would park at Clay Bank Top and walk back along the Cleveland way to meet me. It seemed easy but finding the route was a bit of a mission for Bart and at 9ne point he nearly decided to stay at the pub and leave me to it!

For me the first part of the walk was through woodland. This had an eerie feel in the fog. When we got to the top there was a lot of cloud and wind. My hands became cold and I kept ringing Bart to see when we would meet. Eventually we did meet and start the return trip to the car. By now we were tired, achy and cold.

After an hour’s further cold walking and a final drive we got to the pub.

Night night.

The wild garlic in the woods looked good

Look at those views!

Eerie in the woods

The top

The viewpoint

A great sight on a bad day

The card of well wishes that I carried with me to keep me positive!

Coast to coast walk for the homeless. Day 11

Danby Wiske to Ingleby Cross

Today was a “short day”. It was ten miles only to Ingleby Cross, but Bart decided he would like to go the whole way. So we walked to Ingleby Cross and when we got the we had coffee and cake and then turned round and walked back to get the car!!!

The walk was very muddy but flat. On the return journey we avoided the mud that plagued the outward journey.

At about 4 miles before the end we were both shattered and just wanted to be done!

Met lovely peeps along the way and raised extra money for the Bridge trust.

Cowslips

Lovely people met along the way.

Nicky and Tam making use of the honesty box fridge. Lovely!

Cluck and collect!

Sometimes Cheeky is just mean!

Coast to Coast walk for the homeless. Day 10

Richmond to Danby Wiske

Setting off from Richmond I headed down to and across the river before meeting up with Bart where he had manage to park the car. Again the sun shone but also a shower or two.

We wanted lunch and there was a shower. Very luckily the church provided us with shelter and a toilet!!! We sat in the porch and ate our packed lunches. We could have gone in and made ourselves a hot drink. It was good to see that tinned food was left in the church for anyone who needs it.

My route continued along farmland, whilst Bart returned to the car. By the time I met him at Danby Wiske I was covered in five kinds of shit!

Some of the paths were hard to find, others were slippery. Feet are a bit blistered, but I can still walk ok.

Coast to Coast walk for the homeless. Day 9.

Reeth to Richmond

Today ended up to be about 12 miles of relatively easy terrain. we decided to walk to half way together then Bart would walk back to get the car and meet me at Richmond.

We set off along the river and passed the now repurposed Marrick Priory, up the monks very slippery steps to the hamlet of Marrick. The route then followed farmland till our lunch stop. Which we had in a field on an upturned feeding trough.

Leaving Bart I had one hill to climb, but the route was easy going. I arrived in Richmond early and had a shower before Bart arrived. (He had been having ice cream back in Reeth!)

Before dinner we had a walk down to the river, which was lovely. We behaved ourselves and had a salad! Though because I had been good I had two beers and Bart had a pudding!! (No hope!)

Coast to Coast for the homeless. Day 8

Keld to Reeth

Today’s aim was to start from opposite ends so Bart went off to Reeth in the car and I set off along the high route to Reeth.

The path ascended almost from the start, taking me to a waterfall and up along the gill.

I soon had a great view down the valley.

Foxy took a while to take in the view

I thought I had come across an abbey but it was some kind of smelting mill.

At about this point things went wrong for me. My mapping app was playing up and I got off track. I had to find my way back to the track which was higher than where I was. So I tracked uphill over heather and rocks.

When I got to the track this was my view North

East

South

West!

Things loomed out of the mist, but what I wanted to see was Bart!!!

The cloud cleared and I got a good view but Bart and I had missed each other

Fortunately I got phone signal and we met up again before Reeth.

We are now at the 123 mile mark.

Coast to Coast walk for the homeless. Day 7

Kirby Stephen to Keld

The morning was a steady slog up to the rather amazing nine standards rig. On the way up we passed a massive quarry and between large areas of gorse. The scenery spread out beautifully in all directions. We had lunch at the nine standards. It was lovely and warm and the views were stunning.

Nine standards – there are 9 of these, more than 200 years old.

After Nine standards the route got boggy

Bart returned after the Nine Standards and took an interesting route back.

I continued over the boggy land and soon misjudged the bogginess and lost first one and then both feet. This happened last time I did this and I was prepared! I dried my feet and put on my spare socks!

For the remainder of the journey I was accompanied by the sound of grouse. Bart was just arriving as I arrived so the timing was perfect.

Coast to Coast for the homeless. Day 6

We left via an easy lane and across fields where we had to cross the M6 on a bridge. Strange to see so much traffic.

The route remained easy on limestone hills. Nothing to extreme. We decided to bypass Orton and shortly after we regained the main trail Bart had to return and I continued the route. It was a big day.

The scenery is not dramatic like the lake District but open and full of birds. Grouse could be heard all around and later I saw stoats running down the round.

I was very tired as I approached Kirby Stephen. I had seen no one but a farmer since leaving Bart.

Ten minutes after I got to the hotel it was pouring with rain! Lucky or what??

Foxy carried on but cheeky turned back!

Lonely tree

Orchids

Saving a few bugs by using the boulders!

I bet that hurt!!

These helped!

Oh what big ears you have!