EAST BERKSHIRE RAMBLERS IN THE NORTH YORK MOORS
The weather forecast was not good as 48 of us drove up to Larpool Hall, the HF Holidays Country House Hotel at Whitby, but was to be proven wrong as we enjoyed comfortable walking weather for our four-nights Spring Break in mid April. The Hotel provided excellent accommodation, superbly presented meals and faultless service. Three walks were offered on each of the three full days, led by Pera Marrs, Roy Gardiner and Gerald Barnett.
On the first day we walked the Coastal Path north from Whitby via Runswick Bay to the quaint old fishing village of Staithes. The Easier group of five, led by Roy, started at the village of Goldsborough and walked 6 miles whilst the Medium group of 22, led by Gerald started at Sandsend and walked 8½ miles, initially through an old alum minining area before following the route of the Easier party, both groups lunching at Runswick Bay. The Harder party of 15 led by Pera started from Larpool Hall and walked down into Whitby and along the cliffs before following the common route from Sandsend, a total of 12½ miles. The routes were characterised by long stretches along high cliffs interspersed with steep descents and ascents, particularly at the notorious Hob Holes before Runswick Bay. The Crab and Lobster PH at Staithes and a nearby tea-shop proved popular but the rest of the village was strangely quiet. On our return to Larpool Hall and after an excellent dinner a Quiz Evening proved popular.
On the second day all three walks featured Goathland and Grosmont, along the route of the North York Moors Steam Railway. The Easier party of 12, led by Gerald, walked a total of 7½ miles through Goathland and counted Robert Thompson’s mice in the church before descending to Mallayan Spout waterfall. An unexpectedly steeply undulating route followed to our lunch spot at Grosmont. Some enjoyed a train ride back to Goathland whilst the rest took the gradual ascent back along the line of the 19th century railway and incline to Goathland. The Medium group of 16, led by Pera, had a 9½ miles walk along a similar route but taking a crossing of the River Esk on stepping stones in the village of Egton Bridge on the way. Due to roadwork problems the Harder party of 18, led by Roy, was unable to walk as planned from the dramatic Hole of Horcum but enjoyed instead a short ride on the steam railway from Goathland to Newtondale Halt before rejoining their planned route to walk steeply up onto and over the moor to Grosmont and on to Goathland, a total of about 11 miles. After an early dinner all 48 of us were treated to a dusk coach tour of the sights of Whitby with an interesting and amusing commentary on an open-topped bus (thankfully on a dry and not to cool an evening!).
Our third and final walks found us back on the Coastal Path walking to the south of Whitby northwards via interesting Ravenscar to famous Robin Hood’s Bay. Pera led nine from Beast Cliff on the 6¾ miles Easier Walk whilst Gerald led ten Medium walkers 8½ miles from Hayburn Wyke, initially very steeply before following the same route. Roy’s Harder party of 20 started further south at Cloughton to walk 10¼ miles and all three parties diverted to inspect the Peak Alum Works below Ravenscar before continuing to Robin Hood’s Bay. The village was livelier than Staithes and of much interest (and with good tea shops!). All three groups had steep descents and ascents and were aware at the end of the three days that they had knees! In the evening the now tradional Games Evening was enjoyed by the majority of the Group.
Group Chairman, Peter London, thanked Gerald and Sheila Barnett for organising another excellent Break and presented bottles of wine to the three walks leaders.
Gerald Barnett