Day 13 - Thursday 23 June 2016

Egton Bridge to Robin Hood's Bay (17.4 miles)

Well it had finally arrived - our final day on the Coast to Coast walk. It had really pelted it down overnight however the weather today was supposed to be wall to wall sunshine. We had just under 18 miles to do today therefore roughly 8 hours walking and it would all be over. Finishing a long distance walk is always sad and a bit of an anti climax to be honest. You get into such a routine and therefore don't want it to end - but obviously it has to. Never mind, we would savour the day and having good weather was a bonus - our final day in 2012 was awful for the most part.
 
We breakfasted alone as Russell & Claire had already left - we would catch up with them later on. We walked past the station and were immediately back on the path, turning left to travel down Egton Drive - an old toll road through the Egton Estate. After about 200 yards we saw two figures up ahead - they turned out to be Nicole & Karen who we had not seen since Kirkby Stephen. After a bit of a catch up we were on our way and we stayed in the girls company for the rest of the walk. They told us that they were informed by several people that we had packed in because Fudge was unwell!! 
The path to Grosmont from Egton Bridge is a former toll road through the Egton Estate
The route continued along the toll road and entered Grosmont by way of a bridge over the River Esk. We have been to Grosmont many times and the station is a delight. There were a couple of steam trains in therefore we waited until one of them left the station - all noise, steam and smoke. There is only one word for the climb out of Grosmont - steep! It is a 33% gradient at the start and lessened as we climbed, only flattening out when we reached the cattle grid near Low Bride Stones. Reaching a disused car park, we turned left off the road and headed across rough moorland to reach the A169. Crossing the road that was thankfully quiet, we crossed more moorland before joining a road that meandered its way steeply down to the lovely hamlet of Littlebeck.
Crossing the bridge near Grosmont over the River Esk
With Nicole & Karen at Grosmont
Grosmont Station
The steep rise out of Grosmont
Nicole & Karen climbing out of Grosmont - the photograph does not show how steep this incline was
Super panorama as we look back to Grosmont
The route finally leaves the tarmac as we head to Littlebeck
Whitby - the Abbey can be seen in the centre of shot
Descending to the beautiful hamlet of Littlebeck
​The route meandered through Littlebeck to reach the Village Hall where a path led into Littlebeck Wood. Crossing two tributaries, we then passed a large cave which apparently was an old Alum (a chemical compound) works. The going through Littlebeck Wood was like a quagmire in places and we were glad to reach The Hermitage for a break from it for a while. The Hermitage is a cave thought to have been hewn out of a single rock in 1790 (inscribed above the doorway), reputedly by a George Chubb whose initials are also carved above the door.   
The Hermitage
Uh oh - looks like we have disturbed the Hermit
As we left The Hermitage the path split and we took the left hand fork to meet May Beck coming in from the right to reach Falling Foss Waterfall and the Tea Garden of the same name. As the sun was shining we decided to drop in - the outside seating was very busy but we managed to find a table and we noticed lots of our fellow walkers had the same idea. After a cold drink and a scone with jam & cream we were off to rejoin the route through Littlebeck Wood. At May Beck Car Park the route swung back on itself at a hairpin to head steeply up the road and after New May Beck Farm left the road to head over Sneaton Low Moor.​
Falling Foss
Interesting wood art at Midge Hall
Midge Hall & Falling Foss Tea Garden
Another stunning panorama
Still a long way to go today 
Sneaton Low Moor
It was just after 1400 when we arrived at the B1416 and we reckoned that there was another 3 and a half hours walking left and it was good that the weather was still with us - lovely and sunny. Joining the road, the route soon left it to lead us over Graystone Hills - not hills as such but rough moorland with a good path going right through the middle of the notorious bogs here. After a boggy section we passed through a gate and who should be resting behind the wall but 6 Australians including Russell, Claire, Alison & Rob - it was good to see they had made it this far. Leaving the boggy moorland thankfully, the route joined a stony track that eventually reached a road that led us down to a junction and our first signpost for Robin Hood's Bay.​
Heading across Graystone Hills
A team photo as we near the finish - our first sign we were near Robin Hood's Bay
​Unfortunately it was now time for some road walking, thankfully on quiet lanes to first pass Low Hawsker and then arrive in High Hawsker. The road was a bit busier here but we soon left it to pass through a couple of holiday parks to finally reach the cliff top path. We reckoned we had about 3 miles to go along the undulating cliff top before we reached our goal. The path along the cliffs was a delight, especially today when the weather was so good although by now it was starting to get cloudy and overcast. Passing the lookout hut above us we shortly reached Rocket Post and our way was blocked by you guessed it - cows. They would not move and whilst appearing quite placid we were not prepared to take the risk therefore headed along an overgrown path, rejoining the route 100 yards further on.
The path passes through a Caravan Park to eventually arrive at the cliff edge
Fudge announcing that he can see the sea!
Looking back along the coast towards Whitby
Not far now as we head along the coastal path
Robin Hood's Bay
Soon we arrived at Robin Hood's Bay and back into civilisation. The route comes in at the top of the village and we headed down Whitby Road to reach the Victoria Hotel. There was now a steep descent to the harbour and it was nice to see the HF group again as they were coming back up the hill having completed their walk. As we reached the slipway a big cheer rang out from our fellow walkers who had already finished which was really nice - they were all celebrating outside the Bay Hotel and we would join them shortly. Firstly we had to cast our pebbles into the North Sea and wet our boots - then it was time to celebrate but not before a Seal popped up about 50 yards away - a fitting end.​
The steep descent to Robin Hood's Bay
Nicole & Karen heading down the slope - Karen has her game face on
Journey's End
Fudge cooling his paws in the North Sea
The three of us at the finish - another fantastic experience
Releasing the pebbles we carried from St Bees
As is tradition - we wet our boots and paws in the North Sea
To top it all off we had a visitor
All that needed to be done now was to grab a cold beer and sign the completer’s book which is behind the bar of The Bay Hotel. We then joined our fellow walkers for a few drinks before saying goodbye to everyone and wishing them well - we shall miss them. Now the hard bit - walking back up the steep, steep road to the top of town. Puffed out, we decided to head to the Victoria Hotel for another drink and in the end grabbed some dinner there before heading to West Royd, our final B&B for the night.  ​
As is tradition - sign the completers book in The Bay Hotel
Alison, Claire, Rob and another Australian chap we met in Ingleby
Strewth!! Time for a cold one eh Russell?
If you haven't done it - do it!  It is a fantastic experience and you meet some great people
Goodnight sweet boy
If you are thinking of walking the Coast to Coast then our advice is just do it. It is a fantastic route, full of interest and you will meet some great people from all walks of life. Some people have favourite parts of the walk and if truth be told the Lake District takes some beating but it is fair to say it is all good - just varied walking on sometimes challenging terrain. We shall certainly miss this Long Distance Path and will we do it again? Never say never!!
​Overnight Accommodation        
West Royd - www.westroyd.co.uk

Like going back in time - pleasant enough but not one to remain in the memory for too long.​
Day 13 Data 
Mileage 

Cumulative Mileage

Time

Cumulative Time

Maximum Ascent

Total Ascent

Cumulative Ascent
17.4 miles

194.2 miles

8hrs 20min

88hrs 22 min

951 feet

3510 feet

38169 feet

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