Day 17 - Friday 22 June 2018
Helmsley to High Paradise Farm (Sneck Yate) (13 miles)
Well here we are - the final day of our Cleveland Way & Tabular Hills walk - and what a beautiful day to finish with - wall to wall sunshine coupled with a comforting light breeze to stave off the heat. Ordinarily this would have been our first day had we completed the walk in normal course but as has been explained before, logistically this was not possible. It didn't matter to us - we were just glad we were able to enjoy this walk, meet some lovely people and revel in the beautiful landscape the route crosses.
After an early breakfast at The Old Manse we wandered through Pickering and caught the 0915 bus back to Helmsley. We had a really nice stay with Valerie at The Old Manse - big room and centrally located for all that Pickering has to offer. On arrival in Helmsley it was market day therefore the square was a throng of stalls and people going about their business. From the square we made our way to the official starting point for the Cleveland Way which is on an appropriately named thoroughfare (see pic below). The start is marked by a similar stone carving to that seen at the end in Filey and is situated near Helmsley's main Car Park. We were not alone on the path this morning as there were clearly many walkers keen to enjoy this fine day and we had lots of company as far as Rievaulx. From the turn off to the Abbey Ruins the people disappeared and we were on our own again - following a quiet lane for about a mile to reach the beautiful valley of Flassen Dale. There then followed an idyllic amble through the dale to reach the quiet village of Cold Kirby and here we found a nice spot in the shade next to the village green to rest up for half an hour or so.
From Cold Kirby, the route headed over farmland via tracks & paths to enter woodland near Sutton Bank. The area in and around Sutton Bank contains a myriad of paths, tracks & cycleways and therefore are shared by walkers and cyclists alike. Unfortunately, near to the Visitors Centre we managed to bump into an extremely arrogant idiot on a bike who in no uncertain terms told us that we should not be using a particular path as it was for cyclists only - not wanting to put him right as to the local regulations we just simply ignored the miserable moron. At the Sutton Bank Visitors Centre we stopped for a late lunch to then commence the delightful transit along the escarpment and whilst the temperature had risen markedly and was hard on the feet, this was just superb walking.
All that was left now was to continue on past the ruined buildings at High Barn to then meander through the start of Boltby Forest to reach journey's end at High Paradise Farm. Thankfully our host Tony had not sold our car and after putting our gear away we searched him out and enjoyed a quick chat and drink - there was an event on at the farm therefore we did not hang about. Notwithstanding the arrogant cyclist this was an absolute corker of a day to finish this classic walk on.
After an early breakfast at The Old Manse we wandered through Pickering and caught the 0915 bus back to Helmsley. We had a really nice stay with Valerie at The Old Manse - big room and centrally located for all that Pickering has to offer. On arrival in Helmsley it was market day therefore the square was a throng of stalls and people going about their business. From the square we made our way to the official starting point for the Cleveland Way which is on an appropriately named thoroughfare (see pic below). The start is marked by a similar stone carving to that seen at the end in Filey and is situated near Helmsley's main Car Park. We were not alone on the path this morning as there were clearly many walkers keen to enjoy this fine day and we had lots of company as far as Rievaulx. From the turn off to the Abbey Ruins the people disappeared and we were on our own again - following a quiet lane for about a mile to reach the beautiful valley of Flassen Dale. There then followed an idyllic amble through the dale to reach the quiet village of Cold Kirby and here we found a nice spot in the shade next to the village green to rest up for half an hour or so.
From Cold Kirby, the route headed over farmland via tracks & paths to enter woodland near Sutton Bank. The area in and around Sutton Bank contains a myriad of paths, tracks & cycleways and therefore are shared by walkers and cyclists alike. Unfortunately, near to the Visitors Centre we managed to bump into an extremely arrogant idiot on a bike who in no uncertain terms told us that we should not be using a particular path as it was for cyclists only - not wanting to put him right as to the local regulations we just simply ignored the miserable moron. At the Sutton Bank Visitors Centre we stopped for a late lunch to then commence the delightful transit along the escarpment and whilst the temperature had risen markedly and was hard on the feet, this was just superb walking.
All that was left now was to continue on past the ruined buildings at High Barn to then meander through the start of Boltby Forest to reach journey's end at High Paradise Farm. Thankfully our host Tony had not sold our car and after putting our gear away we searched him out and enjoyed a quick chat and drink - there was an event on at the farm therefore we did not hang about. Notwithstanding the arrogant cyclist this was an absolute corker of a day to finish this classic walk on.
The War Memorial in Pickering
The Market Square in Helmsley and the Lord Feversham Memorial - as you can see it was Market Day
The War Memorial within the grounds of All Saints Church in Helmsley
Just up from the Market Square the route follows a good path to Rievaulx Abbey
The appropriately titled road leading out of Helmsley
The official start point of The Cleveland Way
Normally people's first leg however this was to be our final one - just the 13 or so miles today
It was turning out to be a lovely day as we climbed out of the village towards Rievaulx
Griff Lodge on the edge of Duncombe Park
The route does not actually visit Rievaulx Abbey but a short diversion off route enables the monument to be visited.
There and back is roughly a mile.
There and back is roughly a mile.
The Cistercian House of Rievaulx Abbey which was founded in 1132
Rievaulx Bridge which passes over the River Rye
Stepping stones near Bridge Road - Fudge as usual did not utilise the most obvious route out of the stream
Flassen Dale
St Michael's Church in Cold Kirby
Wood carvings at Sutton Bank
Looking to Roulston Scar & Hood Hill from the toposcope on Sutton Bank
3 miles or so to go until journey's end - it felt longer!
Gormire Lake from Whitestone Cliff (White Mare Crag)
Whitestone Cliff (White Mare Crag)
Looking to Hood Hill
Heading along Boltby Scar
Approaching the derelict buildings at High Barn
Entering Boltby Forest - not far to go now..........
.... as can be seen from the welcoming sign
Here we are - the end of our Cleveland Way & Tabular Hills walk
Day 17 Data
|
Mileage
Cumulative Mileage Time Total Ascent Cumulative Ascent |
13 miles
166.4 miles 5hrs 20mins 3789ft 37520ft |