DAY 13 : ENGLAND : INGLEBY CROSS to CLAYBANK TOP - 24kms - 6 hours



The spectacular Yorkshire moors

Distance walked so far : 246 kms


The B&B at Ingleby Cross, Park House receives 10 out of 10, and in fact, a few extra stars for a welcome Prosecco on arrival and a delicious home- cooked meal, which Beverley prepared while seeing to the needs of a continuous flow of guests.




Beverley at Park House, Ingleby Cross



Raining and windy overnight but it cleared as we set off - up yet another hill. Today we officially entered the Yorkshire Moors - and spectacular they are too. Nothing like the boggy moorland we experienced around Kirkby Stephen. We seemed to walk on top of the world today -  through forests, up and down escarpments with a brilliant view to the north and north-west. We looked across the Vale of Mowbray, interesting landmarks, the industrial haze of Teeside and Middlesbrough.

Looking towards the north and north-west

Through the forest

Today's walk was a combination of the Coast to Coast walk, the Cleveland Way and the The Lyke Wake Way. Much of the walk was on large stone pavements, known as The Lyke Wake Walk (LWW) which had been laid in the 1950s by Bill Cowley, a local farmer, who believed that you could walk from east to west along the heathered moors for 40 miles, from Scarth Wood Moor to Ravenscar. It became a walk which locals tried to complete in 24 hours.

The Lyke Wake Way

Along the route we also found 18th century waymarkers with farmers' initials etched on stone to show ownership.

18th century waymarkers

The heather was resplendent and looked like patchwork. We found from an information board that squares of heather are regularly burnt to regenerate heather for grouse habitat and food supply. Then they shoot them anyway!

The resplendent heather

Our last ascent was up to the Wain Stones - huge rocky outcrop, where there were lots of rock climbers enjoying the challenge. Yet another ridge to walk along and a steep ascent.
At the bottom of Bob rang our hotel from the Claybank Top carpark, The Wainstones Hotel,
and a delivery service came and collected us. The Wainstones Hotel is a big traditional hotel in Greater Broughton.

The Wain Stones

A rogue pheasant in the Clayton Top carpark

Tomorrow we look forward to more moors...