A beautiful sunny start to the day
The steam off the Sir Nigel … out of the bedroom window of the Station Tavern making a gentle sound of bygone eras (I’m waxing lyrically already) 🤭
The railway from Whitby to Pickering leaves the Eskdale line at Grosmont – one of George Stephenson’s early forays into Railways. The North York Moors Railway Society preserves and runs the section from Grosmont to Goathland privately using steam locomotives and rolling stock as they have acquired over the years .
Sue joined us at 9 am and we immediately started uphill out of Grosmont – a 1:3 incline !
Not as bad as you think … as long as you don’t think about it 🤣🤣🤣. Takes 2km up until you reach the cattle grid … and a bit further onto the moor
The sheep watching us in the fields must have thought we’re mad
We reached the last bit of open moor over the cattle grid that had apparently been replaced recently, closing the road for some days (according to our chef at breakfast this morning)
Open moorland once again although we had to walk along the A169 for a bit
Flat Howe is an ancient burial ground from which “the Promised land (and sea)” (ref awainwright, a coast to coast walk, pub. Frances Lincoln 2003) can be seen.
…with views of Whitby and its ruined abbey also beginning to make a repeated appearance
After Littlebeck there came a pleasant but surprisingly ‘lumpy’ (ie a few steep step ‘ups’) stroll through woodland
Past a few woodland ‘oddities’
…the Hermitage
… the pennies in tree trunks
“That woodland is associated with May Beck and the old hermit’s/wishing traditions around Falling Foss. Coins being pushed or hammered into trees are a form of “coin tree” offering: people leave something of value in the tree in exchange for a wish, good fortune or protection.”
FUNGI !!!
to Falling Foss waterfall, which looked a little drier than expected (from other pictures seen)
We then climbed back up onto moorland past a farm with “Belties”
Along low moor and grey stone hills where there had been a massive moorland fire in 2025 … looked like another world
We then descended to Hawsker for a spot of lunch (and half a Guiness)
Whitby Abbey ever closer which meant the sea was ever closer …
A short km or so, an even shorter downhill …
… then we had a brief “halt to savour the satisfaction of arrival at the edge of the North Sea” (Ref awainwright, a coast to coast walk publ, Frances Collins 2003, p160)
… before proceeding along the coast path on a southerly direction, occasionally looking behind us towards Whitby at the dramatic cliffs
What a beautiful day and a beautiful way to end the walk, although someone has reminded me that when they did this bit they had ‘driving rain’ …
… and there it is
A walk down to deposit our pebbles which we have carried from St Bees on the beach of Robin Hoods Bay
The customary photo
And a celebratory ice cream
Dinner in the hotel tonight …. Pudding ….?
Hmmm….
Now just a few days to take it all in…. reflect… and ‘maybe’ plan !!!! (have already been sent a list of further suggestions by a ‘helpful’ friend 🤭)
OUTTAKES to follow in a few days
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