Tabular Hills Walk - Day 2.

Mist and drizzle above Troutsdale Brow

We set off just after 09:00 from our finish point last night, in light drizzle and mist, with a forecast of much the same for the rest of the day. We followed the Troutsdale escarpment along to the Cockmoor Dykes, the first of several Iron Age monuments along the route. The view down Troutsdale from here was disappointing due to the low cloud, so we continued on to Givendale Head Farm and into Dalby Forest.

In Cockmoor Hall Plantation



Morning! - pigs near Givendale Head Farm

We passed several campsites set up for those who came to see the concerts in Dalby over the weekend. They all looked a bit damp and a bit hung over!

The weather started to improve as we reached the viewpoint at Crosscliff and along Crosscliff Brow and Old Wife's Way.

Blakey Topping from Newgate Brow

  

RAF Fylingdales from Newgate Brow

The usual expansive views at Saltergate, which just got better by the minute as the sun came out.



The Hole of Horcum - stream sapping or Wade the Giant?

Hal and Rafe by Dundale Pond

We started to see more people about as we crossed Levisham Moor, including a 12 week old black lab and its owners. The puppy was massive, he's going to be a big un. Lunch was enjoyed by all, on a bench in Levisham, in the sun, overlooking Levisham Brow.

Levisham village

Rafe and Hal wait for Lunch by Levisham

The heat increased as we descended into the mud and slipped and squelched along to Farwath.



Farwath Church

We crossed the river and the railway line here, to be informed by an earnest 6 year old that a train was coming from Pickering and I needed to stop and watch. This I did. He was staying with his granddad, who lives in the adjacent cottage.

Steam train at Farwath Crossing, Newtondale

Up the steep hill to Newton on Rawcliffe in the heat over and back down Newton Bank to Stony Moor.

Newtondale from Newton Banks

Stony Moor was delightful, heather, self seeded birch and pine and lots of stones - it reminded me of parts of Scotland.  

Stony Moor

Through Stape and then south past High Cawthorne and a lovely meadow and through a lovely stand of mixed woodland to Keldy Banks.

 

Meadow at High Cawthorne

Once again a bit of road walking, a slog after 20+ miles, to the end of the day at Cropton Church.



West from Keldy Banks

I had been suffering with a bit of a blister since lunchtime and despite applying a compeed, it had turned into a superblister (anything over 2 inches is a superblister). Day 3 of the Tabular Hills Walk will have to wait!!

Cropton Church

Route: Entrance to Forestry Commission Nurseries, Wykeham Forest (SE928879), SW, Cockmoor Hall, Givendale Head Farm, N then NE on Ebberston Low Moor, Crosscliff viewpoint, Crosscliff Brow, Old Wife's Way, Saltergate, bridleway over Levisham Moor, Limsey Gate Lane, Levisham, Farwath Church, Farwath, Farwath Road, East Brow Road, Newton on Rawcliffe, bridleway N down Newton Banks, Stoney Moor, bridleway to Stape, Peat Road,  S past High Cawthorne, to Keldy Banks, S to Bradley Road, W to Cropton Church (SE756894)

Stats: Distance - 34.5km  Ascent - 580m  Time - 7.55

http://www.ldwa.org.uk/ldp/members/show_path.php?path_name=Tabular+Hills+Walk

Tabular Hills Walk - Day 1.

The Tabular Hills Walk is a 48 mile Regional Walk from Scarborough to Helmsley, along the Tabular Hills (never would have guessed!) the southern edge of the North York Moors. I wanted to do the walk over one weekend.

Setting off after work on a Friday seemed like a good idea, to get a few of the miles under my belt, so it was about 18:15 when I got going from my drop-off point at Scalby Mills.

Scalby Mills

Over the bridge, it was a struggle to keep the dogs from jumping down onto the beach, but once on the steps, heading north, they were up for a long evening walk.

North Bay, Scarborough

It is only a short streach on the clifftop, with the usual exceptional views, before heading off towards Scalby, along a fieldside full of wild flowers.  


Scentless Mayweed near Scalby

There was a bit to much of the tarmac between Burniston Road and the Sea Cut in Scalby, but it passed quickly enough.
 

Friday night bowles in Scalby

Along the Sea Cut the wild flowers and grasses were at their best.

The Sea Cut near Scalby

Hal - The Sea Cut near Scalby

Hal and Rafe in The Sea Cut near Scalby

This was the best part of this evenings walk and the dogs even got a paddle. 

Over a mile of road walking from Mowthorpe, past the closed Everley Hotel, and onto Wrench Green came next. It felt rather dangerous with two dogs on leads next to a winding single track, with cars whizzing past - some drivers with the usual "whadda ya doing on my road?" scowls.

Looking west towards Coomb Hill and Langate

The surroundings made up for this though.


The Everley from the bottom of Langate

A steep but quite short ascent of Langate up into Wykeham Forest, with good views down towards Hackness, followed by a walk through our usual stomping grounds.

Hackness Hall

Langdale and Broxa from Hay Brow

There was a party going on at Hay Brow viewpoint, several families having a barbeque. We were all forced to listen to Simple Minds, who were playing at Dalby Forest. The wind must have been in the right direction as we could hear every word.



Rafe and Hal check out the geology info at Hay Brow


Route: Along the escarpment to the Forestry Commission Nursery gates finished us off for the evening.

Route: Scalby Mills (TA035907), noth along Cleveland Way, turb west at TA031913, Scalby, Sea Cut, Mowthorpe, Everley, Wrench Green, Langate, Haygate Brow, Finish at entrance to Forestry Commission Nurseries, Wykeham Forest (SE928879).

Stats:  Distance - 14.2km  Ascent - 320m  Time - 3.10

More TROUBLE in the Woods?



A fallen branch outside the FC Wykeham Research Station

The BMC monthly e-newsletter included an article entitled:

BMC calls for members' Forestry Tales.

Here are some of the comments made by Cath Flitcroft of the BMC:

The Forestry Commission, which owns and runs 18% of England's woods, has announced significant changes after its budget was cut. These cuts could impact on the public services it currently provides.

and further on in the article:

The main concern with these job losses and a potential change in direction is that it may leave the Forestry Commission unable to maintain and deliver the public services it currently provides. In addition, it is unclear how these cuts will impact on the thinking of the Independent Panel and how effective its role in considering “options for enhancing public benefits from all woodland and forests” will now be.

Just makes you wonder whether the Forestry Commission will be privatised through the back door. I can see the Goverment condemning the Commission as being "not fit for purpose" when the massive cuts to its budget bite, and this being used as an excuse to sell off vast tracts of our land to its rich friends (and if you live in Scotland, don't think you're immune!).

Link to the full article: http://www.thebmc.co.uk/News.aspx?id=4297

Cows

Out on our regular dog walk tonight in Wykeham Forest - the local cows and their calves came over to see us (or possibly just Hal and Rafe!)

For all the carnivores amongst you - take note, your future rump steak!!

The photo's were taken on the phone so are not quite such good quality as usual (but took a lot less time to upload). Looking west from SE943865.