Out & About …

… on the North York Moors, or wherever I happen to be.

Tag: moor

  • Great Ayton Moor

    Great Ayton Moor

    There’s an old adage that is said in all farming communities, from Scotland, to Wales and to Cumbria: Where there’s bracken there’s gold; where there’s gorse there’s silver; where there’s heather there’s poverty At first it’s hard to see the reasoning. Bracken is allelopathic, it produces toxins in the soil which prevents other plants from germinating. Hardly…

  • Highcliff Nab

    Highcliff Nab

    The heather is just about past its sell by date. A view east from Percy Rigg towards Highcliffe or Codhill Farm and Highcliff Nab.

  • Capt.Cook's Monument

    Capt.Cook's Monument

    I recently read an article which suggests a Masonic connection to the obelisk and with the great man himself. Apparently obelisks symbolize the Egyptian sun god Amon Re and its cap  or ‘benben’ is actually a pyramid. Now a pyramid forms the basis of the Freemasonry symbol The Eye of Providence, a symbol which can be seen on the reverse of the Great…

  • Westerdale

    Westerdale

    Better known as the name of the village, on the ridge on the right of the photo, but this upper part of the River Esk is mapped as Westerdale. The ling or heather is in full bloom. From John Breckon Road.

  • Newton Moor

    Newton Moor

    Back home on my home moors and I’m saddened to find the remains of a campfire on Newton Moor which is at the remotest part of the National Trust’s Roseberry Topping property. What makes it even more depressing is that the wooden post to which this sign was fixed has been used for fuel.

  • Sunshine and Grey Skies

    Sunshine and Grey Skies

    An ugly scar across the heather moor of Carlton Moor, the yellow sandstone of the track accentuated by the threatening skies. The track is typical of estate roads all over the North York Moors providing easy access for the shooting parties. This track though was probably built by the glider station which used to operate on Carlton…

  • Hutton Moor

    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…

  • Leven Vale

    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…

  • High Bride Stones

    High Bride Stones

      Fascinating sandstone columns and rock outcrops eroded over the millennia by wind and rain. Deep wooded valleys or ‘griffs’ cut into the moor, which is a National Trust property a few miles south of Whitby. In the photo is Dovedale Griff. Unlike many heather moors Bridestones is not managed solely for the grouse so is much richer in wildlife.…

  • Apedale Beck

    Apedale Beck

    In Swaledale for a few days. Vodaphone has not managed to get here yet so postings may be delayed a bit. This is Apedale on the wide open moors between Reeth and Leyburn.