WHITBY, MAY 2017

HF HOUSE - LARPOOL HALL

As we drove into Whitby I noticed a side turning to a village called Littlebeck, the road signs having warnings of gradients 1 in 3 and 1 in 5 for more than 2 miles, which made me realise that walking in North Yorkshire wasn't for the faint hearted! However, it was not quite as bad as that all week; but there were some very steep sections both along the coast and on the Moors.

The first day began with grey skies and a biting easterly wind, starting out at the Pinchinthorpe Visitor Centre close to Guisborough, walking to and ascending Roseberry Topping (described as Yorkshire's mini-Matterhorn) with good views in all directions. We descended to the valley below and then, after lunch, another long climb up to Captain Cook's monument with a final, gradual descent to Great Ayton, the village where James Cook went to school before moving to Whitby - to be apprenticed.

By the second day the wind had dropped,slightly, and all three groups walked along the coastal path, The Cleveland Way, starting at three points depending on stamina: Cloughton, Hayburn Wyke and Ravenscar, walking northwards to Robin Hood's Bay. There were significant ups and downs with steep steps leading into and out of gullies formed by erosion of streams flowing into the sea. The last named Bogle Hole (a bogle is a ghost, but we didn't meet any) was particularly steep but fortunately the last one before dropping into Robin Hood's Bay where there was time for a refreshing cup of tea before the coach took us back to the hotel.

On our last day all walks started at the Hole of Horcum, a huge bowl caused by spring- sapping where ground water welling up undermines the hillside slopes above, though legend has it that the god Wade picked up a clod of earth to throw at his wife during an argument.

Regardless of its formation, at three quarters of a mile across and four hundred feet deep it is large. Some of us circumnavigated the top, others walked down into and across it reaching a most lovely valley with sheep and lambs, and then up onto moorland where we passed a pond, created by monks for their flocks in the 12th century, before reaching the picturesque village of Levisham. Leaving the village we dropped down into a valley, walking by a stream with wild garlic in great profusion, passing a ruined, deconsecrated church surrounded by green fields and more sheep, and on to cross the Whitby to Pickering train line. Our route should have taken us round Ness Head through forestry land, but, with no signs to indicate the path should be closed as felling was taking place, we got as far as fallen trees and had to retrace our steps. Quick thinking by our leader suggested the safe alternative – a lengthy climb to the top to re-join the footpath at a safe distance away from the logging. At the top we stopped for lunch, sitting in bright warm sunshine. Although this diversion added a mile or so to the route, we made up the time as we walked across level fields of winter wheat.

The final descent brought us into Pickering, walking parallel to the railway line; we saw great clouds of steam and smoke as the train chugged past us bringing back childhood memories and the smell of stream trains. There was time to look in Pickering parish church at the magnificent medieval frescoes which adorn the walls of the nave before returning to Larpool Hall.

In all another great holiday. The teams at each HF house we have been to have been great in providing us with very comfortable accommodation, good food, and excellent walk leaders and an opportunity to walk in a different and sometimes challenging countryside. Above all a huge 'Thank you' to Alison Broadbridge for organising this and other recent holidays.

Elizabeth Adams