Out & About …

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

  • Port Mulgrave

    Port Mulgrave

    Every time I go to Port Mulgrave, it still feels very much the same, yet much has changed. The winter storms have eroded the old jetty. The harbour has become more silted, the fishermen’s huts more elaborate. Some now are clearly contenders for Grand Designs. Landslips have caused the steep paths down the cliff to…

  • Armouth Wath

    Armouth Wath

    The North York Moors is not renown for its coalfields, but in the late 18th-century, coal was being mined here but on a much smaller scale than the deeper coalfields in other parts of the country. ‘Moor Coal’ seams are thin, usually between 15 and 55 cm. thick and generally occur in three bands, the…

  • The Red Poppy

    The Red Poppy

    Look, how the Poppies flaunt their red-red flags O’er all yon cornfield,—beauty out of place! So when the angel Peace would bless our race, The demon War, in horrid triumph, drags His gore-stain’d chariot; drums and trumpets sound To nerve the soldier’s arm to burn and slay, And showy banners are unfurl’d alway,— All fitter…

  • The Leven at Little Ayton

    The Leven at Little Ayton

    A tranquil feel to the River Leven this morning down by Holme’s Bridge. And warm too. I was reminded of the halcyon days of early lockdown. The Leven, named after the Celtic water-nymph, ‘Leuan‘. A surprising number of rivers have names deriving from Celtic; surviving in spite of the influence of the Saxons and Scandinavians,…

  • Westworth Reservoir

    Westworth Reservoir

    Originally built to supply water for Guisborough town, Westworth Reservoir was constructed in 1875 and continued until the early 1970s when the water supply system was replaced. It was retained as a water supply in the event of a forest fire. However, by the end of the century, the dam’s structure was in danger due…

  • Lowcross Farm

    Lowcross Farm

    I remember being intrigued by the wall of this barn when driving past it on the old road which went through Lowcross Farm, near Pinchinthorpe. The farm has long since been by-passed and the memory had faded but a recent visit to the stables there worked a few brain cells. The holes are for ventilation,…

  • Coledale Hause

    Coledale Hause

    A grand morning with the tops free of cloud so the high fells beckoned. From Lanthwaite near Crummock Water, straight onto the south-west ridge of Whiteside, then a ridge run to Hopegill Head and back via Coledale Hause and Gasgale Gill. Back in time for breakfast. The culmination of a good few days in the…

  • Loweswater

    Loweswater

    An opportunity to explore the Fellbarrow range of hills west of Lorton Vale. Neat and rolling fells with steep craggy eastern and southern sides. And another two Wainwrights bagged, Fellbarrow itself (416m high) and Low Fell (423m), although I must admit I ran over Low Fell not realising it was the high point. I really…

  • Shoulthwaite Gill

    Shoulthwaite Gill

    Thinking about somewhere to aim for, it suddenly occurred to me that I have never been up Raven Crag overlooking Thirlmere. It’s not a particularly prominent fell, its 461m summit is almost covered by aged coniferous trees planted by Manchester Corporation when they built the Thirlmere reservoir. More interesting was the little subsidiary summit of…

  • Upleatham Park

    Upleatham Park

    In search of any remains of Upleatham Hall, that was situated about halfway between Guisborough and Saltburn. The hall was built originally by Sir Lawrence Dundas (1710-81) after acquiring the estate along with others in Aske, Richmond, Marske and Loftus. This must have been an intense spending spree, all estates seemingly being brought within the…

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