Day 17 Clay Bank Top to Blakey Ridge (14.4 Km, total ascent 425m)

Day 17 Clay Bank to Blakey Ridge (14.4 Km, total ascent 425m)

At breakfast this morning, Judy our host provided a delicious range of local cheeses as well as the usual breakfast fare and it was difficult to leave the warmth of West Cote to head back to the route at Clay Bank.  

Today was the easiest day of the walk, with only about 14 Km on a good track, one uphill climb at the beginning then fairly flat with the last 8 Km on a walkway that was previously a railway line.  

Today's route.

The weather was cloudy with intermittent showers and strong winds.  We endured a storm shower with  gale force winds, driving rain and hail but fortunately the hail only lasted about 15 minutes.  We saw several grouse along with other birds.  A flock of seagulls appeared overhead for a few minutes showing we are getting closer to the coast even if we were still more than 50 km away.  There are lovely views down the Farndale valley on this section of the walk.  We reached The Lion Inn in time for lunch and had a relaxing afternoon.

Above Chop Gate mist covers the moor.

We bid farewell to Judy at West Cote.

Looking back from Clay Bank Top the mist on the moor, but a view to the north.

We see and hear plenty of grouse today.

And a lonely sheep.

More sheep and moor mist.

The mist rolls in.

The Hand Stone.

Gary with the Face Stone.

The Face Stone with Urra Moor trig point in the distance.

Elaine prods a route through the mud.

For a brief moment, seagulls appear overhead, but we are still 50 Km from the coast.

View over the Moor to Farndale.

Water on the moor.

Farndale in the mist.

It's very windy and these sheep have found a sheltered spot in a Grouse Butt (a hide for grouse shooters)

Across the moor to Farndale.

The sun comes out for a few minutes so we have a snack of crisps.

Panoramic view of Farndale

Looking straight down the dale.

Farndale surrounded by moorland.

The Lion Inn, our destination, comes into view.

One last small climb up to the Lion Inn, a walkers oasis in the moor.

We arrive at The Lion in time for lunch.

And in the evening enjoy a good meal

Day 16 Ingleby Cross to Clay Bank Top (20.1 Km, total ascent 1018 m)

Day 16 Ingleby Cross to Clay Bank Top (20.1 Km, total ascent 1018 m)

After a hearty breakfast, we head off uphill through Arncliffe Woods and onto Scarth Wood Moor.  Today we followed a clear and well marked path which is part of the Cleveland Way, so no navigational issues and a good path underfoot.  We met a dutch couple we had last seen in Patterdale and also met a couple from Alaska also doing the Coast to Coast.  We also met two men from Hertfordshire walking the Cleveland Way.

The route today.

There were a lot of ups and downs through the day which added up to the second highest total elevation gain for the route.  This was surprising as it certainly wasn't the second hardest day for us, perhaps it was because the path was so easy to walk along.  There were marvellous panoramic views of around 180 degrees  to the north and intermittent lovely views down the series of valleys that penetrate the moors.  For the first time, we saw the North Sea in the far distance beyond the industrial city of Middlesbrough.

At lunchtime we stopped at Lord Stones Cafe Restaurant which suddenly appeared like a mirage after the blustery cold track over Carlton Moor.  After an hour break for lunch we had a two hour walk to Clay Bank Top where we were met by our hosts and taken to their farm, our B&B for the night.

The day starts with drizzling rain as we walk up through Arncliffe Woods

And we reach the top for a sweeping view back towards he Pennines.

Panorama looking back across the Vale of Mowbray towards the Pennines.

A treed mound in the view which we could see for most of the day.

A good paved path to walk along.

The pointy bit is Roseberry Topping, another landmark seen throughout the day.

We have a panoramic view all day. Middlesborough in the distance.

Middlesbrough in the distance and our first glimpse of the North Sea,.

We walk through moorland with the two guys from Hertfordshire  walking the Cleveland  Way.

Gary at the cairn on Live Moor.

The weather threatens and we are battered by strong winds.

But we have a clear view.

Elaine at the trig point on Carlton Moor, with adjacent boundary maker.

Fantastic views all day long, we can see for miles

 We descended from the moor and arrived at Lord Stones Bar and Restaurant which was very busy.
It was unexpected and almost surreal going from the bleak and empty moor with our muddy boots (overshoes provided inside the door) straight into a bustling restaurant in the middle of nowhere, full of well dressed people including a group celebrating a marriage.

After a meal and drink we stepped out and back up onto the isolation of the moor and the blustery wind.

Today had lots of ups and downs, we climbed a total of 1018m, surprisingly the second highest total on our route.

The next climb ahead to the Wain Stones and Hasty Bank.

We saw several pheasants today.

Wain Stones.

Gary at the Wain Stones.

Elaine climbs through the Wain Stones.

Looking back to Cringle Moor from the Wain Stones

Looking down the valley towards Chop Gate.

A grouse nesting in the heather at Hasty Bank.

The view from West Cote, our accommodation for the night.

Shortly after we arrived, there was a break in the weather with blue sky for the first time in days.  It will not last as the forecast for tomorrow is for strong winds and thundery showers. It will be a cold, bleak and wet day across the moors.

Shortly after we arrive there is some clearing of the clouds but tomorrow's forecast is for stormy weather..

And for a few minutes we can see the moon through our skylight window, then the clouds close over again..