Out & About …

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

Category: Cliff Rigg

  • The Cleveland Dyke

    The Cleveland Dyke

    I ‘discovered’ this viewpoint the other day. It nicely illustrates the route of that intrusion of igneous rock known as Cleveland Dyke. The Cleveland Dyke was formed about 59 million years ago when an immense hot spot of pressurised molten magma developed under the Earth’s crust near the island of Mull off the west coast…

  • A view from Cliff Rigg

    A view from Cliff Rigg

    In the distance, the Cleveland Hills look gloomy and drab. Breaks in the cloud allow patches of sunlight to flit across the vale. Near right is Undercliffe House, built of whinstone setts. December 9th, sixteen days left until Christmas and the day designated by the United Nations as ‘International Anti-Corruption Day‘. The theme this year…

  • Flying on a wing and a prayer

    Flying on a wing and a prayer

    Now that the COP26 UN Climate Change Conference is underway in Glasgow I was hoping to feature a photo that shows the effect of climate change on our North York Moors. But, unless you live in an area which has been subjected to flooding or fires, any effects are either incrementally small or subtle. Right…

  • “Give us our eleven days”

    “Give us our eleven days”

    So the story goes when the Gregorian Calendar was introduced and the 3rd September became the 14th, but it may all have been some satire generated by the artist William Hogarth. The phrase is included in his painting ‘An Election Entertainment‘ (bottom right on a black banner under the foot of a gentlemen who appears…

  • A live posting

    A live posting

    Thought I would take an evening stroll. It’s very quiet up here on Cliff Ridge. Just the odd car moving below. Anything happening in the world? Only kidding. But I’m not the least interested in watching football. Of course, I want England to win, for the delight of my family and friends. But what irritates…

  • On the 1st April 1933 …

    On the 1st April 1933 …

    … the Nazis carried out their very first nationwide, planned action against the Jewish people, an economic boycott of Jewish businesses (although large employers were exempted). It was the first openly anti-Semitic act of Hitler’s new government and was ostensively in response to international protests, notably in America, in support of the Jews but also…

  • What’s the problem with Stinking Willie?

    What’s the problem with Stinking Willie?

    Common ragwort, the bane of horsey people. Also known as St James’ Wort, Staggerwort, Stammerwort, Yellow tops, and, the best of all, Mare’s fart. Those who keep horses are religious about labouriously hand pulling every plant from their paddocks. Yet horses and other grazing animals find it bitter and will not normally eat the growing…

  • Cliff Rigg Quarry

    Cliff Rigg Quarry

    Feeling under the weather so haven’t ventured far. Two ascents of Cliff Rigg with its huge hole left by the whinstone industry. The tooth of rock is the remnant of a wall of whinstone left as shoring to stop the weaker shales from collapsing. In the distance, is Capt. Cook’s Monument of Easby Moor Open…

  • On Cliff Rigg

    On Cliff Rigg

    An end of the afternoon dog walk up Cliff Rigg, part of the Cleveland Dyke, an igneous intrusion formed 56 million years ago that withstood the forces of the glaciers. In the distance is Capt. Cook’s Monument on Easby Moor, and the Cleveland Hills, but the air is filled with the coconut scent of the…

  • The Cleveland Dyke

    The Cleveland Dyke

    A view north-west from Cliff Ridge along Langbaurgh Ridge and the line of the intrusion of igneous rock known as the Cleveland Dyke. The basaltic rock was intruded as molten magma flowed from a volcanic source near the Island of Mull in Scotland 58 million years ago. It is calculated the flow took up to…