Walk 05/2007 – Bed and Breakfast Walking in Yorkshire

Saturday 24th and Sunday 25th February 2007

The Yorkshire Moors and Cleveland Hills

After some late drop outs, nine of us met up at the Danish Invader to set off for Yorkshire. We got up there just before mid day and there was some confusion over whether we were going straight to the hostel or straight to the start of the walk. So we all ended up at the hostel which was fortunately open and we were able to book in. We then went off to start the planned walk for Saturday. The route took in part of the Cleveland Way and circumvented Arden Great Moor. The moor was covered in cloud when we started but fortunately this lifted after not too long and we started to get some views. As we were nearing the end of the circuit, it started to rain. But it was not far to the cars so we could not be bothered to put our wet gear on. As we got closer to the cars, the rain got heavier and we ended up being quite wet by the time we reached them.

After returning to the hostel for a shower, we discovered the the hostel did not have a licence since the wardens had only just moved there. So whilst they had some bottles of local beer, they could not sell them to us. We suggested that they could give them away free if we bought a creme egg for £2.50, but they would not have it.

After a very filling meal, most of us walked into Osmotherley for a drink. The pub in the Good Beer Guide is the Golden Lion which is also very poplar for food so it is difficult to get a seat. Judith managed to get us to sit outside for a bit by saying it was really warm but some of us were glad when we managed to get a seat inside. The hostel meal had been too much for Graham who led an early return to the hostel for some because they could not drink any more beer! Once we were all back at the hostel there followed a crossword session for those still awake.

Although our breakfast on Sunday lacked a full fry up, it did include cheese and fried bacon enabling us to make some rather tasty cheese and bacon rolls.

The weather was better on Sunday and we went further east and walked around Bilsdale. There were some quite tricky stream crossings on the route and these together with lots of mud, meant that more than one person ended with wet feet. On a day ideal for gaiters, I was surprised I was the only one wearing them. One thing that was eveident over the weekend, was the number of derelict and disused farmhouses that we came across; a sign no doubt of the difficulties in making farming pay these days.

So over the two days we had walked about 19 miles, got pretty wet and muddy but had a great time.

Alan

Walk rating – Very Good

T’weather were not great as we made our first soup stop.	Judith is a bit slow getting the hang of the hand movements for the coat dance.
The cloud starts to clear and we get some views.	The hostel at Osmotherley is an old mill.
Why is everybody looking in different directions?	This river crossing proves a little tricky.
Another tricky stream crossing coming up.	Andy looks on as Judith extracts herself from the stream. How was the water?
Bilsdale.	View towards Hawnby Moor.