September 24, 2009
C2C - Richmond to Ingleby Arncliffe - stayed at the Somerset House
Distance/Time - 37 kms /23 miles - 8 ½ hours
Weather - mostly sunny and cool temperatures (16c/60f).
Terrain - gently rolling hills at start to flat farmland for most of the way.
Notes
Leaving Swaledale we headed east towards the Cleveland Hills. The walk was through the Vale of Mowbray – a flat agriculture area. Stone fences now replaced by shrub fences & sheep pastures. Lots of fields being cultivated for crops. Came across a couple of examples of British humour. One was a cute road sign and the other a farmer who had put some fake rats on the posts you had to climb over. Long day – legs somewhat “shattered”
September 25, 2009
C2C - Ingleby Arncliffe to Blakey - stayed at the High Blakey House
Distance/Time - 40 km /23 miles - 8 ½ hours
Weather - cloudy and cool/chilly temperatures.
Terrain - climbed up Cleveland Hill to crest and began our hike across the North Yorkshire Moors. Stone walkways through fairly steep moors that were covered in fields of heather. Last part of hike on abandoned railway tracks on top of Ferndale and Blakey Moors.
Notes
Once we cleared the top of Cleveland Hill the view of Scarth Moor was spectacular. Walked for many hours in undulating hills covered in heather. Fourty six miles (75 kms) in two days - couldn’t wait for a cold pint at the Lion Inn in Blakey. Fourth highest pub in England , this is a truly classic countryside English pub. It sits on the top of wind swept Blakey Moor. Great bar, good food.
Posts from this trip.
This is Wainwright’s C2C path, not trail. I think of a trail as a fairly flat manicured walkway. We are embarking on something completely different. The majority of the 192 miles across England will be on 16” rutted out pathways filled with mud, sheep/cattle manure, smooth and sharp boulders, tree roots and running water.
What a welcome to our return to the C2C. This was the worst weather we have encountered and it actually hailed on us at the top of Nine Standards. Wind, rain, hail, mud and very low visibility made this day a real adventure. Relied on compass to find our way when we couldn’t find the path and visibility was only 75’ (25 meters). Great view when the sun is shining - so they say.
Just when I thought the scenery couldn’t get any more beautiful – along came this amazing section of our hike. The River Swale Valley is spectacular with vistas of old stone farm buildings, stone fences and sheep pastures. Nestled along the River Swale were two beautiful picturesque villages – Muker and Gunnerside.
As the crow flies our last section should have been 10 miles – but Wainwright (who the hike is named after) had other plans. The hike through Little Beck Preserve was like hiking through the Hobbits Middle Earth – and the extra circle around the coastal cliffs proved a fitting way to enter into Robin Hood’s Bay.
C2C hikers either carry a pebble or small vile of water from the start (St. Bees). I carried some Irish Sea water and poured it into the North Sea. Then you go to Wainwright’s Bar, which is at the waters edge, and have a very refreshing pint or two. Sign the log book and put down a few personal notes. We relaxed, enjoyed the view and watched for other people we met along the way finish their hike. Then we enjoyed fish and chips at a chip shop – the best fish and chips we ever had!