Day 15 - Friday 15 June 2012
Grosmont to Robin Hood's Bay (16.6 miles)
Well here we are – the last day and also Dave’s 50th birthday. After card opening and breakfast we put our rucksacks together for the last time and made our way up the hill out of Grosmont. Today was the day when the weather really turned for the worst. Four Seasons in One Day! The hill out of Grosmont is relentless and it absolutely chucked it down making the walk up it hard going indeed. Over Sleights Moor the torrential rain made the walk really miserable and we reached the A169 thoroughly soaked. We thought we had pretty good foul weather gear – the rain still made it through somehow!
The A169 came as a bit of a shock – the traffic bombed along it and thankfully we turned off to the right after 200 yards and made our way over fields and road to the beautiful hamlet of Littlebeck. It was here that the weather started to cheer up a bit and we had a dry spell as we moved through Littlebeck Wood. We then missed the stepping stones at the two tributaries and spent half an hour trying to get back on track which we did eventually.
We then reached the Hermitage which is a large hollowed out piece of sandstone. It is thought to have been carved out by a man called George Chubb in 1790. Pressing on we reached Falling Foss and the beautiful Tea Garden at Midge Hall where we enjoyed a super cream tea – well it was our last day after all! It is amazing what the present owners have done to this once derelict area and it is well worth stopping off en route - www.fallingfossteagarden.co.uk.
The A169 came as a bit of a shock – the traffic bombed along it and thankfully we turned off to the right after 200 yards and made our way over fields and road to the beautiful hamlet of Littlebeck. It was here that the weather started to cheer up a bit and we had a dry spell as we moved through Littlebeck Wood. We then missed the stepping stones at the two tributaries and spent half an hour trying to get back on track which we did eventually.
We then reached the Hermitage which is a large hollowed out piece of sandstone. It is thought to have been carved out by a man called George Chubb in 1790. Pressing on we reached Falling Foss and the beautiful Tea Garden at Midge Hall where we enjoyed a super cream tea – well it was our last day after all! It is amazing what the present owners have done to this once derelict area and it is well worth stopping off en route - www.fallingfossteagarden.co.uk.
Suitably refreshed and almost dry again we carried on through the final part of Littlebeck Wood before emerging at a car park and road. The road walking here was uphill but it did give us great views over the hillside and we soon reached the path just past New May Beck Farm. The ground underfoot started to deteriorate from here and we endured very boggy ground over Sneaton Low Moor and we were glad to reach the B Road where we bumped into the 2 Australian ladies who had decided to cut their losses and take the road all the way to the finish. We must admit to not blaming them one bit. Leaving the B Road we made our way over even more bog at Graystone Hills and reached the road near Rigg Farm. The road became metalled and we then saw our first sign for Robin Hood’s Bay near Low Hawsker.
The weather was continuing to hold and became sunny but we had a strange feeling that all was about to change soon. More road walking followed and we finally made it to High Hawsker and walked through Northcliffe Holiday Park to reach the North Sea. Our forebodings about the weather were right – it started to thunder and lightning and we were caught on the coast with virtually no shelter. There were still just under 3 miles to go and luckily after about 15 minutes the lightning cleared away to the east and out to sea.
Whilst we had walked almost 17 miles today in just over 8 hours we suddenly realised how fresh we were and also how walk fit we had become over the past 2 weeks. It now started to rain quite hard as we made our way down the hill through Robin Hood’s Bay to the sea and dipped our boots in the salt water and threw away the pebbles duly carried with us all the way from St Bees. Whilst arriving at the finish was not an anti climax there was a feeling of deflation that it was all over as we had both thoroughly enjoyed the adventure. Photographs taken outside the plaque at the Bay Hotel, we made our way inside for a drink and to sign the completer’s book at the bar. We had a quick chat with the other people who had finished and also observed from the book entries that the people we met on the walk earlier had all made it.
It was time now to find our B&B which was The Wayfarer Bistro up the hill and through the village. After a warm shower and change of clothes we met Dave’s brother and his wife who had driven up from Leeds and were staying overnight in order to celebrate Dave’s birthday with a meal at The Wayfarer. We enjoyed a superb evening, the food was excellent and we were also joined by the 2 Australian ladies who had completed the walk that day and also and the couple we had met at Shap and also at Ingleby Cross. A fitting end to what was a fabulous journey.
Strewth!! It's the Australians!
Overnight Accommodation
Wayfarer Bistro, Robin Hood’s Bay - www.wayfarerbistro.co.uk
Lovely rooms and the Bistro downstairs serves excellent cuisine.
Lovely rooms and the Bistro downstairs serves excellent cuisine.
Day 15 Data
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Mileage
Cumulative mileage Time Cumulative Time Maximum Ascent Total Ascent Cumulative Ascent |
16.6 miles
192.7 miles 8 hrs 34 min 88 hrs 10 min 975 feet 3707 feet 37447 feet |