Author: Fhithich
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Codhill Slack
For those who walk, or run, the Cleveland Way with your head held high concentrating on the top of your next climb, Highcliff Nab or Percy Rigg, or admiring the view across the bogs of Codhill Slack to Sleddale, you will miss this. If however you walk head down looking at your feet you may notice an unusual paving slab or,…
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Bolton Castle
Located in Wensleydale, the castle dates from the late 14c when it was built by Sir Richard le Scrope, Lord Chancellor of England to Richard II. It is still owned and lived in by the Scrope family. Its most famous guest was Mary Queen of Scots although many castles up and down the country can…
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Saltburn Pier
A classic view of Saltburn pier with the funicular railway in front. The pier was opened in 1869 and was originally 1500 feet long. It quickly became popular and a stop on the Bridlington to Hartlepool steamer route. In 1875 the pier was battered in an October storm and was reduced to 1250 feet. In 1924 the…
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Fair Lady’s Pool
A windy day, with snow showers. Fair Lady’s Pool would have once a significant feature on Rievaulx Moor but has been hidden for decades within a plantation of spruce trees. Recent clear felling has opened up the pond and exposed nearby the wreck of a military vehicle. It looks like a tank to me and is probably a Valentine tank used by the 11th Armoured…
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Ward Nab
A stunted oak tree precariously growing out of a crag at Ward Nab on the south eastern edge of Easby Moor. The rock athletes are perhaps more familiar with the name of Cook’s Crags but Ward Nab is the name that appears on the OS Map. Overlooking the forestry plantations of Coate Moor and Kildale.
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Great Ayton Bridge
Didn’t venture far today, after my exertions of yesterday. Spanning the River Leven, Great Ayton bridge was built in 1909, replacing an earlier one. The word “Ayton” on the parapet was removed during the Second World War so as not to aid German paratroopers should we have been invaded.
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Cleveland Survival
A checkpoint in Bransdale. The Cleveland Survival is a 26 mile event superbly organised by the Cleveland Mountain Rescue Team as part of their fundraising activities. The course is not revealed until after you have started and involves visiting several checkpoints such as this which are all manned by members of the team. Well done. This year’s event…
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Millstone, Park Nab
This is a bit of a mystery. In Kildale just off the Baysdale road, it’s a lump of sandstone that has obviously been dressed to the shape of a circle, a good two paces in diameter, maybe five foot, and eight inches thick. (I don’t carry a tape measure around with me so only guessing.)…
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The Sad Tale of Sarkless Kitty
April, 1784 and Kitty Garthwaite, a domestic servant girl from Gillamoor, was meeting her lover, Herbert Longster at Lowna in Farndale, close to the farm where she was employed and which was Herbert’s father’s farm. It seems Kitty was pregnant and previously, when first told, Herbert had refused to accept responsibility. Herbert’s father wasn’t too happy also and had told Kitty to leave. Herbert must…
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Newton Wood
Ramsons provide a lush carpet on the floor of Newton Woods taking full advantage of the lack of tree cover in early Spring. This area of Newton Woods has been cleared by the National Trust of non-native sycamore trees allowing much more light to reach the wood floor and encouraging the growth of ash and oak…