Walking in North Yorkshire

Roseberry Topping, Easby Moor and Captain Cook's Monument from Great Ayton

7 miles Fine and cold

It's a couple of years since we last did this walk, which, although not a Tom Scott Burns walk, would be well known to him.Today was a cold day but bright and often sunny and should ensure good views from the higher points.

We parked at Great Ayton in the High Street and walked east, eventually crossing and leaving the road at a footpath sign taking us towards Cleveland Lodge.

Today's route, except we turned left before Dykes Lane to walk down to Brookside Farm

Leaving the road at this sign..

.. the track leads towards Cleveland Lodge

The hedge alongside the track has been cut and for once we had a good view of Cleveland Lodge across the fields.

We continued following the field path to cross the Middlesbrough to Whitby railway line near to Ryeghill Farm.

Cleveland Lodge

Always muddy along here!

We've just crossed the railway line..

.. and just in time!

Slow climb towards Newton Wood

We walked through farm fields and reached Cliff Rigg Quarry where whinstone was mined until 1973. We diverted slightly by climbing uphill to reach the old quarry for a better look.

Climbing through Cliff Rigg Wood

Passing by old quarry winding blocks

Quarry remains

The quarry edge is fenced off

North end of the quarry

Close to the quarry we were interested to see a new information board near to an archaeological dig that described how Captain Cook's cottage is now believed to have been on this spot.

Roseberry from Cliff Rigg Wood

We re-joined our farm track and crossed several fields with Roseberry Topping dominating the skyline, eventually reaching Wilson's Folly, a shooting box on the slopes of Roseberry.

Crossing field tracks to Roseberry

Wilson's Folly

A short steep climb now took us to the top of Roseberry where we were surprised to see someone had 'decorated' the trig point. We had fine views in the clear air, even picking out landmarks in County Durham.

Newton under Roseberry below

Guisborough in the distance

A steep descent from Roseberry showing our path over Newton Moor

Looking back

Crossing Newton Moor

We put up some grouse

Looking down on Gribdale Gate

With Roseberry behind us we headed south towards Easby Moor and Captain Cook's Monument. Our path led us down to Gribdale Gate where a picnic table is thoughtfully positioned for our coffee stop. We settled down to enjoy our scones and immediately were joined by a robin who was happy to take scone from my fingers and, when I wasn't generous enough, to peck the unproffered scone in my other hand.

Robins seem to like banana..

Scone is better than banana!

Modelling for crumbs

Leaving the friendly robin and Gribdale we climbed up towards the monument, stopping briefly to look at a memorial plaque to a British air crew, killed here during WW2. There had obviously been a Remembrance Day visit to the spot, judging by the poppies and nearby trees had been decorated with Christmas baubles.

We soon reached the monument but didn't pause in today's chilly wind, following our path towards stone gateposts and the descent from Easby Moor.

Captain Cooks Monument

Wind stunted larch near the monument

Clive passes the gateposts but what's that in the wall to his right?

Painted stone in the wall will make a nice find for a hiking child!

As we reached Dykes Lane we made a decision to stray from our map as I wanted to buy some home made jam from Fletcher's Farm shop. We turned left before Dykes Lane into a farm track where there was a Weak Bridge sign, and this led us, via the weak railway bridge, to Brookside Farm, now known as Fletcher's Farm. The farm now hosts a popular cafe called Fletcher's which was busy with late lunch guests as we passed, and nearby is its farm shop where I bought a nice jar of black cherry jam.

Steep and sometimes slippery descent from Easby Moor through Ayton Banks Wood

Looking over at Roseberry and Gribdale Terrace cottages

Controlled burning on the moor makes a hazy landscape

Turn off here towards the weak bridge

Over the railway bridge which looks down....

... on to Great Ayton Station below

Geese at Fletcher's Farm

After passing the farm we joined the tarmac lane from Little Ayton and walked into Great Ayton. After stopping at Petch's pie shop to buy fresh fruit scones for my freezer, we changed out of our boots and popped in to the Royal Oak for a couple of pints and a walk de-brief.