Friday 30 December 2011

Robin Hoods Bay

An afternoon walk around Robin Hoods Bay.

Ravenscar from Robin Hoods Bay

A cold wind and glowering skies kept us moving. Not weather for fossil hunting or stopping to admire the views very much. 

Robin Hoods Bay







We called into the Fossil Museum and the National Trust Old Coastguard Station Museum; had a slide about on the wave cut platforms; had an explore around the wonderful windy old streets and passages


Robin Hoods Bay, looking towards Ravenscar

and just made it back to the car five minutes before the heavens opened.

Thursday 29 December 2011

Good News - Independent Forestry Panel - Progress Report

The Independent Forestry Panel, set up by the Government to look into the future of the Nations forests, hasn't managed to grab any headlines recently, with everything else that has been going on.


Wykeham Forest

But here are a couple of links to information about the very positive interim report.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2011/dec/07/forests-woodlands-enviornment-benefits

http://saveourwoods.co.uk/articles/news/forestry-panel-progress-report/

December

It's been a damp and mild sort of a month, a bit windy at times, a few frosts and chilly weather mid month, but mostly just damp and mild.
 
Wykeham Forest (SE940878)

Its been really great to be able to get out and about in the woods in daylight hours during the Christmas break.

Wykeham Forest in December?

 
Wykeham Forest (SE937878) - December?

Hal and Rafe in Tumulus (SE940878) - Wykeham Forest
  
Tumulus (SE940878) - Wykeham Forest

 
Common puffball in December - Wykeham Forest

Dogs on a rock - Charcoal Burners Track,
Wykeham Forest (SE939877)

Young larch trees in Harlands Nursery
Wykeham Forest (SE934878)

Halleykeld bridleway, Wykeham Forest (SE937870)

Pheasants finding sanctuary
North Moor, Wykeham Forest

 
Hal - Elven Wood,
Wykeham Forest (SE945863)

 
Total snowfall in Wykeham Forest
December 2011 (SE942870)

Getting a touch damp underfoot
Charcoal Burners Track, Wykeham Forest (SE937887)

Dogs on a rock - again - Wykeham Forest (SE841869)

Vale of Pickering and Yorkshire Wolds from Wykeham Forest (SE951863) on Christmas Day in the morning, 2011

Happy New Year.

Saturday 26 November 2011

Around Hutton-le-Hole.

Views south from Lastingham Knoll

A voluntary ranger patrol on a mild windy day with low cloud and interesting skies. We set off from Hutton le Hole, walking over the hill to Lastingham and then east and north across the moors to Ana Cross.

Tranmire Beck, near Lastingham

The views were good, across the bleakness of late autumn. The colours were brown, dun and yellow, but brightened by the occasional late flowers.

Tranmire Plain, near Lastingham



Tranmire Beck, near Lastingham


The wind was blowing hard across the higher moors, whipping the last few leaves from the occasional dwarf birch.

We then walked south back towards Lastingham, where we had our lunch, sitting on a bench overlooking the village. The wind had dropped, now that we were off the higher moors.

Lastingham Ridge

We had a brief respite in the Blacksmiths Arms in Lastingham, beside the roaring fire. The pub was filled with afternoon revellers, in the area to enjoy the Cropton Beer Festival. We moved on west again to Spaunton and over the hill back to Hutton le Hole for a cuppa in a village tea room.

Fungi on ash tree - any ideas?
(just above the ground, open woodland, approx 30cm across)


Route: NYMNP Car Park, Hutton le Hole (SE705902), south through the village, footpath NE from just south of the church (SE705898), to the road, east to footpath at SE721903, NE past Camomile Farm, continue past finger pointer sign, (sp Hartoft), Tranmire, bridleway north and then east to Redman Plain, Ana Cross, south over Spaunton Moor and Lastingham Ridge, Lastingham, take unclassified road south (where the road out of the village takes a sharp turn east) and over a little bridge, past the cottages and south on a footpath from SE729902. When arrive at the minor road, take road signposted Spaunton. Once through the village turn south on Spaunton Lane, west on Lingmoor Lane, north ane west around Lingmoor Wood, north on Bottomfields Lane and back to Hutton le Hole.

Stats: Distance - 17km  Ascent - 400m  Time - 5 hours

Early Morning Skies over the Vale of Pickering

More glorious morning skies - from Wykeham Forest

Sunday 20 November 2011

November


Wykeham Forest - the Big Gorse Bush (SE940874)

Doing most of my weekday walking in the dark makes me appreciate how wonderful the woods are in daylight. The weather has been a bit more mixed over the last couple of weekends, and so Wykeham Forest has shown some different sides.







 
Wykeham Forest - Elven Wood (SE948563)

Wykeham Forest
Elven Wood (SE942867)
   
Wykeham Forest - by Rise Dikes (SE943868)






















Wykeham Forest - Hallykeld bridleway (SE936870)
 
Wykeham Forest - Bee Dale Top (SE944869)

 
Wykeham Forest
hollow road
by Rise Dikes (SE944867)


 
Wykeham Forest
hollow road by Rise Dikes (SE943867)

  





















Wykeham Forest - Gorse by Rise Dikes (SE944867)



Sunday 6 November 2011

Glorious Autumn in Wykeham Forest

We've been lucky with the sunshine in Wykeham Forest this autumn, and this has brought out the best colours.

Rafe and Hal, Elven Wood, Wykeham Forest


Bee Dale Short Grain, Wykeham Forest

Beech Walk, nr North Moor,
Wykeham Forest
Bee Dale Short Grain, Wykeham Forest
 
Hallykeld Rigg, Wykeham Forest

Three Tremblers Bays, Wykeham Forest
Nr Three Tremblers Bays, Wykeham Forest


  
Hal - Beech Walk, by Wykeham Forest Research Yard



































Sunday 30 October 2011

Whitby.

Jim and I took the littlest members of the clan for an afternoon in Whitby. After a trip on the Bark Endeavour (25 minutes at sea is enough for a two year old !), an ice cream on the pier is the only way to go.

Whitby Abbey from Bark Endeavour

Bark Endeavour in Whitby Harbour



Whitby and it's harbour



Whitby's Bark Endeavour

  
East Pier and Saltwick Nab beyond


The North Sea from Whitby West Pier

  
Whitby Abbey, St. Mary's Church and East Cliff

 
By the beach and West Pier, Whitby

Local resident

Evening in Whitby from the top of 199 Steps

Beinn Bhrotain and Monadh Mor

Setting off from Glen Feshie - it was chilly - before the sun had a chance to peep over the hills...  Off we go! Jim - Setting off near Auch...