Temperature Inversions and Timetable Errors

A glorious morning on the hills south of Guisborough, the so-called top of Belmangate. While the town wallowed in cold and damp misery, those above the temperature inversion were treated to the breathtaking sight of Eston Nab and Airy Hill rising like islands from the clouds, with a diffused Brocken spectre thrown in for good measure.

Dr. Elgee, a local historian, speculated that Airy Hill might sit on a Roman road connecting Boulby to Guisborough and on to Tollesby, where it would merge with another Roman road—an ancestor of the old A174, apparently. He even wondered if Guisborough’s name hinted at a Roman fort. Stirring stuff, if you enjoy the sound of guesses¹Guisborough Before 1900 — Chapter One. Edited by B.J.D. Harrison and G. Dixon. 1982..

Apart from a few Roman coins and a helmet, there is not much in the way of evidence for any of this. If the Romans did wander over Airy Hill, they were probably just following the tracks previous generations had worn into the ground. Later, the Norse settlers did apparently amble through, hence Airy Hill’s derivation from the Norse-Irish “airyh,” meaning a shieling or summer pasture²“The North York Moors Landscape Heritage”. Edited by D.A. Spratt and B.J.D. Harrison. David & Charles. 1989. Page 95..

As for my journey to Guisborough, it was less a Roman epic and more a farce. Trusting Google to guide me to the bus from Great Ayton, I confidently read a timetable for Service No. 18, spotting an ideal 0856 departure. Alas, the bus ambled in at 0926, after I had spent half an hour standing outside a chemist, chilled to the marrow and observing the fascinating habits of passers-by.

The culprit? An outdated timetable from a defunct company. Naturally, I hold Google accountable for this fiasco. It is clear that their algorithm is not designed to accommodate my very specific brand of incompetence.

• 1
  Guisborough Before 1900 — Chapter One. Edited by B.J.D. Harrison and G. Dixon. 1982.
• 2
  “The North York Moors Landscape Heritage”. Edited by D.A. Spratt and B.J.D. Harrison. David & Charles. 1989. Page 95.