Roseberry Topping & Captain Cook's Monument from Great Ayton - Wednesday 20 January 2016
Route
Great Ayton - Dikes Lane - Slacks Quarry - Cliff Ridge Wood - Roseberry Topping - Newton Moor - Great Ayton Moor - Gribdale Gate - Cockshaw Hill - Easby Moor - Captain Cook's Monument - Ayton Banks Wood - Dikes Lane - Great Ayton Station
Parking
Great Ayton Station (Free) - Grid Ref NZ574108. Nearest postcode is TS9 6HQ.
Mileage
6.5 miles.
Terrain
Woodland, field and forest paths some of which were extremely icy requiring care to be taken.
Weather
Overcast and very cold
Time Taken
4hrs 10mins
Total Ascent
2099ft (640m)
Map
OL26 North York Moors (Western Area)
Walkers
Dave, Angie & Fudge
Great Ayton - Dikes Lane - Slacks Quarry - Cliff Ridge Wood - Roseberry Topping - Newton Moor - Great Ayton Moor - Gribdale Gate - Cockshaw Hill - Easby Moor - Captain Cook's Monument - Ayton Banks Wood - Dikes Lane - Great Ayton Station
Parking
Great Ayton Station (Free) - Grid Ref NZ574108. Nearest postcode is TS9 6HQ.
Mileage
6.5 miles.
Terrain
Woodland, field and forest paths some of which were extremely icy requiring care to be taken.
Weather
Overcast and very cold
Time Taken
4hrs 10mins
Total Ascent
2099ft (640m)
Map
OL26 North York Moors (Western Area)
Walkers
Dave, Angie & Fudge
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Walk Description
There is a small Car Park at Great Ayton Station which is where we started today's walk.
The route climbs a muddy ascent of Cliff Ridge Wood
Our first view of Roseberry Topping as we exit Cliff Ridge Wood
A little further on and the route follows a path beside a fence
The Shooting Box on Roseberry Common beneath the summit...................
......... to save me a bit of typing here is why and when it was built.
From The Shooting Box a good path leads to the summit of Roseberry Topping.
The going underfoot was beginning to get pretty icy therefore it would be interesting to see what conditions would be like on the top.
The going underfoot was beginning to get pretty icy therefore it would be interesting to see what conditions would be like on the top.
If we didn't know where we were then we did now!
The summit of Roseberry Topping looking to Captain Cook's Monument - as can be seen it was pretty icy up here.
It is safe to say the conditions today were very wintry
Time to get down now as it was bitterly cold up on the summit
Dropping down off the summit of Roseberry Topping.
We were now on The Cleveland Way and heading up on to Newton Moor which is ahead.
We were now on The Cleveland Way and heading up on to Newton Moor which is ahead.
Looking back to Roseberry Topping from the ascent of Newton Moor
We were off in the direction of Gribdale Gate which is where the people to the left are heading
A clearer view of our next destination of Captain Cook's Monument from the descent to Gribdale Gate
Down at Gribdale Gate - a lot less busy today than it usually is
Left over Christmas Decorations adorn several trees as we climb Cockshaw Hill
The ascent of Cockshaw Hill from Gribdale Gate - glad we were not walking down this as it was pretty icy.
It was near here that Angie lost her favourite hat - this gave us an excuse to drive to Go Outdoors in Stockton and buy her a new one - and more kit.
It was near here that Angie lost her favourite hat - this gave us an excuse to drive to Go Outdoors in Stockton and buy her a new one - and more kit.
The memorial near Captain Cook's Monument to the RAF Lockheed Hudson that crashed here in February 1940 - never forgotten.
Captain Cook's Monument
The monument was erected in 1827 by Robert Campion, a Whitby Banker. A plaque on the monument reads:
In memory of the celebrated circumnavigator Captain James Cook F.R.S. A man of nautical knowledge inferior to none, in zeal, prudence and energy, superior to most. Regardless of danger he opened an intercourse with the Friendly Isles and other parts of the Southern Hemisphere. He was born at Marton Oct. 27th 1728 and massacred at Owythee Feb. 14th 1779 to the inexpressible grief of his countrymen. While the art of navigation shall be cultivated among men, whilst the spirit of enterprise, commerce and philanthropy shall animate the sons of Britain, while it shall be deemed the honour of a Christian Nation to spread civilisation and the blessings of the Christian faith among pagan and savage tribes, so long will the name of Captain Cook stand out amongst the most celebrated and most admired benefactors of the human race.
The monument was erected in 1827 by Robert Campion, a Whitby Banker. A plaque on the monument reads:
In memory of the celebrated circumnavigator Captain James Cook F.R.S. A man of nautical knowledge inferior to none, in zeal, prudence and energy, superior to most. Regardless of danger he opened an intercourse with the Friendly Isles and other parts of the Southern Hemisphere. He was born at Marton Oct. 27th 1728 and massacred at Owythee Feb. 14th 1779 to the inexpressible grief of his countrymen. While the art of navigation shall be cultivated among men, whilst the spirit of enterprise, commerce and philanthropy shall animate the sons of Britain, while it shall be deemed the honour of a Christian Nation to spread civilisation and the blessings of the Christian faith among pagan and savage tribes, so long will the name of Captain Cook stand out amongst the most celebrated and most admired benefactors of the human race.
A last look at Roseberry Topping as we head back to Great Ayton