Month: June 2016
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Staindale Beck
A quiet dale just outside the eastern edge of Dalby Forest Park with a wooded beck of crystal clear waters with small trout on one of the National Trust’s working farms. The name Stain Dale comes from the Norse and means a ‘stony valley’ probably because of the rock formations higher up the valley at the Bridestones.
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Roseberry Common
I have posted a photo of this new downhill mountain bike track on Ryston Bank before. It’s quite a feat of engineering. I don’t begrudge the building of the track but I am concerned about the source of the sandstone rocks used to make the berms and ramps. Roseberry Common, beyond the fence and ruined dry stone…
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Roseberry in the distance
A nice view of Roseberry Topping across the vale of Cleveland. But it is the jumbled collection of rocks below the Wain Stones that has long intrigued me. Dumped there by the last glacier that passed by on its way southwards it must have provided ideal temporary shelter with good views for mesolithic man as he began the…
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Hutton Moor
This path across Hutton Moor provides a pleasant alternative from the hard gravel of the parallel forestry track on the other side of the fence. In spite of the heather moorland being Open Access Land the path is frequently used by dog walkers and mountain bikers. It is also a SSSI. A week ago I was running…
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Leven Vale
My DofE group today decided to explore the upper reaches of the River Leven. A quiet, unfrequented area of heather moorland on a warm, sunny day giving views I’ve never seen before. In the centre on the far side of the valley is the tall chimney of the Warren Moor Ironstone Mine. I’ve been asked to include…
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Elder Flowers
How wonderful to be with a DofE group today who were keen to understand and try out out edible wild plants. The small delicate flowers of the Elder were boiled up with sugar and a lemon flavoured drink powder (they didn’t have an orange or lemon). The elder flower water tasted good and hopefully will…
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Buttermere Valley
It started off as a bike ride around Rosedale on the North York Moors. Then my young scion suggested a day trip to Lakes instead. So that’s how I ended up climbing Honister Pass and the first time in the Lakes without going on the fells.
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Spawood Mine Powder House
Even in the bright summer sunshine it’s dark beneath the tree canopy of Spawood near Slapewath. The powder house stored black powder, the explosive used in the ironstone mines. To minimise potential damage in the advent of an explosion, the building was substantially made with thick walls buried within the hillside some distance from the mine buildings. Spawood Mine was leased by the Weardale, Coal…
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Three Coast Charity Tractor Run
Driving back through the village today I was surprised to find 30 or so vintage tractors parked up on the high green. They were taking part in the Three Coast Charity Run from Liverpool to Whitby and back. Apparently it’s the longest annual vintage tractor road run in the world with Great Ayton providing a welcome breather where, as you…
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Park Nab
Late evening sunshine. View to Battersby Crag. And a request to include a link to the location. Here goes.