The Lord Stones to Cringle Moor and Clough

6 miles                             Cold with sharp showers

As I am recovering from a heavy cold it seemed sensible to do a shorter walk from Tom Scott Burns' 'The Walker's Guide to the Cleveland Hills'.

For the second time in a week we parked at the Lord Stones cafe and after booting up set off to join the Cleveland Way as it climbs up Cringle Moor.

Today's walk from The Walker's Guide to the Cleveland Hills

In his walker's guide Tom Scott Burns explains that the Lord Stones Cafe takes its name from the Three Lords' Stones tumulus which is situated immediately behind the cafe.  This modern name for the tumulus derives from the three estate boundaries held by the local land owning lords: Helmsley, Busby and Whorlton, which meet here.  The present owners have placed a few 'faux Lord stones' on the green ridge north of the cafe.

We walked over to look at the Lord Stones and saw that a new stone memorial seat has been placed above Busby Moor, giving a fine view towards Middlesbrough and the Tees.

Clive among the Lord Stones

The Lord Stones and Cringle Moor behind

We walk over to the new memorial seat

View from the seat

Curiosity satisfied we set off on the Cleveland Way once more.

We made our way to the summit of Cringle Moor and reached another stone memorial, often called Falconer's Seat and named after Alec Falconer, who wrote the 'Wayfarer' column in the Saturday Evening Gazette in the 1950s.

There's a great view from this spot and the memorial's plaque points out all the surrounding features.

Climbing Cringle Moor

Looking back towards Lord Stones

The view towards Roseberry Topping from Falconer's Seat

Litter warning on Falconer's Seat

Leaving the memorial we walked on and after about 100 yards looked down onto a rock face where long ago, in more literate times, someone carved 'Tempus exploro omnis negotium'.  TSB says this roughly translates as "I'll try anything once and everything in time."  but Google translates it as "Time solves all problems", which sounds more likely, though not as much fun.

Tempus exploro omnis negotium - Highbrow graffiti

We walked east across the ridge and then negotiated the steep descent from Cringle Moor (from Cranimoor - circular moor) with care on the wet stones. Passing the old stone remains of Donna Cross we reached a new Road Traffic Sign which some idiot department has placed in the most unsightly manner on the moor. Cars cannot reach this place and the type of person who would bring a motorcycle up here is not likely to pay attention to it but now walkers will have their view spoiled by this ugly sign, what are the authorities thinking!

Crossing Cringle Moor

View from Cringle Moor

Descending Cringle Moor

The remains of Donna Cross

What are they thinking?!

Just past this ridiculous sign there is a wooden signpost pointing towards Beak Hills and this is where we turned right, leaving the Cleveland Way.  Initially there is no path but having crossed a field we passed through a gate and joined a farm track that changes from grass to stone as one progresses and eventually becomes tarmac. 

TSB says this was an ancient pannier-man's trod, along which lime, fish, salt, jet and alum were once transported.  It now joins the farms of Beak Hills, Cold Moor Cote and Stone Intake to the Chop Gate to Carlton road.

There were several horses grazing here, one of which decided to investigate us but fortunately after a bit of fuss rejoined his pals.

Bear right

Turn right to Beak Hills

Through the gate...

.. oh Heck!

He just wants a bit of fuss!

Sheep at Beak Hills Farm

Passing Cold Moor Cote Farm we paused to admire their hardy Galloway cattle before continuing along the road to turn off at a stile just before Stone Intake Farm.

The track becomes a tarmac road..

.. and passes Cold Moor Cote Farm

Galloway Cattle

Reaching Stone Intake Farm we turned right into a field at a stile just before the farm buildings, and descended via several fields as we dropped down to Raisdale Beck, soon reaching the Chop Gate to Lords Stone road.  We followed the tarmac lane for a hundred yards or so before turning left into a drive leading to Raisdale Mill.

Leaving the road at Stone Intake

Descend through fields...

Looking back to Stone Intake Farm

...to reach the road

Raisdale Beck

The old mill buildings

Here, amongst the mill buildings with some strange old fairy decorations watching us from the trees, we stopped at an old picnic table to enjoy our coffee and scones.

Numerous old decorations at Raisdale Mill

Refreshed we set off from the mill, across the fields alongside Raisdale Beck.  The grass was extremely wet after after recent heavy rain and we splodged along until we reached a conifer plantation and forestry path which made much easier walking.   

We followed the forestry track until it crosses Raisdale Beck and swings sharply left.  At this point we turned right, following a yellow waymark sign into fields and towards the remains of the hamlet of Clough.

The word Clough comes from the Anglo-Saxon for a valley with steep sides and this Clough is a rather sad spot with fairly extensive ruins showing that it was once a thriving community.  

Looking back to Raisdale Mill

Walking by Raisdale Beck

The view as we approach Clough

The ruins of Clough...

... with the beginnings of Barkers Ridge behind

Beyond Clough the path crosses several boggy, reedy fields.  There is no path as such but yellow waymarks indicate the way at every field boundary.  We continued straight ahead until we reached Staindale Farm where we were greeted by noisy dogs.  We passed the hounds and entered the farmyard to be greeted by more noise, this time from two turkeys.

"Hello" we said, "are you getting ready for Christmas?"  

"They are not!" said a voice from behind us, and we stopped to chat to the lady farmer who explained that the birds were 'Rescue Turkeys' that she had grown very fond of. She said that they had loads of character and she had told her husband that they couldn't be eaten until they died of old age!

Mine workings on Wath Hill opposite Staindale Farm

Staindale Farm in the distance

A noisy reception

Sheep weather vane at Staindale farm

Rescue turkeys

Getting a bit of fuss

Saying goodbye to the farmer we left the farmyard and, after stopping again this time to pet a couple of alpacas, we continued following yellow way marks through fields soon reaching Thwaites House, and shortly after, the tarmac road almost adjacent to the Lords Stone Cafe.

Alpacas like a bit of fuss too!

More field walking...

... to reach Thwaite House

Pond and Cringle Moor from Thwaite House

Glamping accommodation at Lord Stones

We were soon seated in the Lord Stones cafe enjoying a pint of Black Sheep and discussing today's walk, which  although short is enjoyable and ideal for a winter's day.