Category: North York Moors
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Jenny Bradley Stone
Let’s be clear I talking about the smaller stone, somewhat apt by having a feminine cognomen and is overshadowed by the more masculine 19th-century estate marker. This medieval wayside marker stands beside the Cleveland Way which follows at this point the old packhorse way from Baysdale Abbey southwards to Ryedale. Like a lot of medieval…
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Guisborough Wood
Took a trip up to Guisborough Woods to see for myself the devastating effect of Saturday’s fire. It covered an area of about 44 acres on an area of gorse and young spruce trees on the area known as “The Warren” above Cass Rock Quarry. Much was still smouldering but I suspect many of the…
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Boggle Hole
A name best known for the Youth Hostel that occupies the old corn mill buildings at the foot of a steep rocky ravine down which Mill Beck flows into the sea. Boggle Hole is one of the last six remaining Youth Hostels in the North York Moors, the others being Whitby, Scarborough, Osmotherley, Helmsley and…
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The Elephant Stone
Some wit referred to this as the Elephant Stone. I don’t know if that’s an “official” name but to me, it’s a complete misnomer. It looks nothing like an elephant and that is in spite of a strategically placed climbing hold as an eye, and some carved voracious teeth. Teeth, on an elephant! It can…
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The National Trust Omega Sign
There’s always been an omega sign, the classic National trust design, at the end of Aireyholme Lane on Roseberry Common but the angle on which it had been erected did not give a clear view with the Topping as a backdrop. So when, a couple of weeks ago, I was tasked, as a National Trust…
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Havelock Stone
In 1716 the Lord of the Manor of Gisborough, Edward Chaloner, ‘perambulated’ around the boundaries of his manor. This annual custom was carried out throughout the country often on Ascension Day and is often known as Beating the bounds. Before the days of modern surveying, it was an important way of reinforcing the parish boundaries.…
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A horse’s route up Roseberry
I was perusing the North York Moors Rights of Way map the other day when I noticed that there is a Public Bridleway that zigzags its way from the top of Roseberry Lane almost to the summit. In the photo, the bridleway comes up the flagged path to the bend and then continues to the…
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Esklets
The very upper reaches of the River Esk, an island of old improved land surrounded by moorland. Land which somehow managed to escape being classified as Access Land under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 even though it was last farmed in the 1950s. Activity now seems to be devoted to the grouse…
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Blackthorn thicket, Newton Wood
A bit of a wet morning, with wisps of cloud skirting the hills. In a few weeks time, this blackthorn thicket will have settled back into an unassuming backdrop to the wonderful display of bluebells in Newton Wood. A few early sprigs are already showing. But for now, the spiny blackthorn takes the stage with…
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18th-Century Privy
A fine example of vernacular architecture at its best, the outside toilet or privy at the bottom of the garden of Warren House in Kildale. The privy is a Listed Building Grade II in its own right. Rubblestone walls with a pantile roof with, apparently, the wooden-seated privy still inside. I didn’t sneak a look…