Captain Cook Country from Great Ayton

 

8 miles                Cold and grey

For the second time in as many months I forgot my camera so today's photos were taken with my phone.

We  parked on Great Ayton High Street near to Suggitt's Cafe and crossed the River Leven by the steel bridge opposite the cafe.  We paused briefly to admire the old pissoir which has been located near the bridge as a non-operational feature and painted red for some reason.  There were originally three of these and to my recollection they were painted a tasteful green and I remember being glad of their presence when I was a child and used to cycle to Ayton from Middlesbrough.

Leaving the old urinal we followed the river upstream.

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

Great Ayton

Suggitt's, famous since I were a lad...

The powers that be have decided that this small area is now called Waterfall Park

Old urinal, display purposes only!

Snowdrops everywhere in today's walk

Wolf's bane also in flower in Waterfall Park

Last night's rain has got rid of all snow and ice but left our paths a bit claggy.  We followed the river to reach a deer farm but there was no sign of any livestock today.  We soon reached Woodhouse Farm where we renewed acquaintance with their two pet geese before crossing a horse paddock.

Following the river upstream from Ayton

The high fence of the deer farm

Geese at Woodhouse Farm

Old Scammell Scarab road sweeper at Woodhouse Farm

Woodhouse Farm

Unusual face markings

After crossing Woodhouse Farm's horse paddock and a bridge over the river to Easby Lane, we walked through the village and over the railway bridge.

Low Easby

Garden decoration

Weather vane at Low Easby

Almost life-size jockey lurking at Low Easby

Walking through Low Easby

We stayed on the tarmac road for half a mile before crossing a way-marked stile into fields, just before Borough Green Farm, to begin a steady climb to Easby Moor.

Snowdrops in hawthorn hedges

Half a mile on tarmac....

... before entering fields..

... a steady climb up to the moor

Reaching the Moor Gate we turned right to follow our path below the moor to Mill Bank Wood.   Entering the wood we walked for over a mile.  TSB says that the wood is named after an old Bleach Mill where woollen cloth was 'fulled' in order to soften and shrink it to a warmer, closer weave. The mill was destroyed on the night of 21st July 1840 when heavy rains caused enormous volumes of water to burst two fishponds at Kildale Hall. A wall of water 40 feet high carried away two stone bridges, a corn mill, sluice gates, an earth dam and the bleaching mill as it rushed towards Great Ayton.  

Looking back to Low Easby

We reach the moor gate

Walking through Mill Bank Wood

Leaving Mill Bank Wood at Bankside Farm

We came out of the woods by Bankside Farm and joined the tarmac lane.  Just past the farm buildings we passed through a gate and sat in the shelter of a stone wall to enjoy our coffee and scones.

Pastoral scene at Bankside Farm

Bankside Farm

Kildale Church from our coffee stop

Kildale Hall

Refreshed, we followed the farm road uphill from Bankside Farm until reaching a fork where we turned left to walk through the trees of Coate Moor.  A gentle climb leads to Captain Cook's Monument.

New Cleveland Way signs

Now on the Cleveland Way to the monument

TSB notes that the monument was built in 1827, the foundation stone being laid by Robert Campion of Whitby.  

Walking down from the monument we passed the remains of old workings that is the site of Ayton Ironstone mines, worked by Pease and Partners from 1909 to 1928.  

We took care as we descended the slippery path through the trees and followed the track to pass some white cottages on the Gribdale Gate road.  

Wind blasted spruce trees

Great Ayton in the distance below

Low Easby below

Steep and slippery descent

Leaving the moor behind

White cottages at Aireyholme Lane

After passing the white cottages a steep climb followed, up the tarmac track to Aireyholme Farm where there was a fine view over to Roseberry Topping. 

Roseberry Topping from Aireyholme Farm

Aireyholme Farm is famous for being the workplace of Captain Cook's father, who was bailiff there in 1736.

After pausing to buy some free range eggs at Aireyholme Farm we went through a farm gate and followed a muddy track up to  Aireyholme Cottage where we turned sharp left and crossed fields to Cliff Rigg Quarry

Information Board at Aireyholme Farm

Aireyholme Farm

Sheep at Aireyholme Farm

Aireyholme Cottage

Below Cliff Rigg Quarry, where whinstone was mined until the middle of the last century, is the site believed to be where Captain Cook's father lived in a small cottage, although there is no trace now other than the information board.

Information board at site of Captain Cook's cottage

Descending from the quarry we crossed the railway line once more before following the very muddy path alongside Cleveland Lodge and into Great Ayton.

Descending from Cliff Rigg Quarry

Crossing the railway lines

Back in Great Ayton we walked along the High Street and took the opportunity to collect fresh scones from Petch's Pie Shop before changing out of our boots and popping into the Royal Oak for a pint to end our day's walk.

The hiker's reward