Category: North York Moors
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Now this is a white Christmas
For the last 46 years, I have run on Christmas morning. Today was no exception. No new snow overnight but yesterday’s had acquired a frozen crust. This is looking down the Cleveland Way on Ingleby Moor. Quiz question: who described his Christmas day thus? “Lay pretty long in bed, and then rose, leaving my wife…
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There’s something thrilling about being out in a snow flurry
Although Kirby doesn’t look too happy; but I think she is really. An amble over Carlton and Live Moors. Low cloud, not much to see or photograph. I wish you all the best possible Christmas, under these difficult circumstances.
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Face to face with the snake-haired Gorgon
I popped along to see how Medusa’s fairing. Deciding to approach the old dear from above, I descended through a remaining swathe of coniferous trees, sheltered briefly from the incessant rain. For a moment I thought I had blown it as I sled on my derrière past the massive split boulder through which the ancient…
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A new sign’s appeared
No Dogs No Bikes This is not a Footpath/Bridleway There is an increase in these signs across the moors. This one has been placed in the last fortnight or so right across a well-used path on Great Ayton Moor leading to Lonsdale Quarry. A blatant attempt by the landowners to intimidate the public to keep…
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A founderous circuit of Scaling Dam
No photo of the rising sun on this Winter Solstice, but one of Scaling Dam which has the distinction of being half in Tier 3 and half in Tier 2. There was not much activity. Just the odd angler. All watersports are in their winter hibernation. The state of the “Circular Walk” around the reservoir…
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A splash of green
Heather moorland, for most of the year, especially in winter, offers a drab palette of dull browns. Only in late summer, when the heather comes into full bloom, do the moors take on their blanket of purple. Yet occasionally you come across a splash of contrast. Verdant bog mosses, most likely one of the UK’s…
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Aerial Ropeway Base, Cliff Rigg Wood
Standing proud in Cliff Rigg Wood, a concrete base that supported one of the steel trestles for an aerial ropeway that ran from Ayton Bank Ironstone Mine to sidings at the west end of Cliff Ridge where the ore was loaded into railway trucks. As the trestles were of a tripod design there would have…
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A familiar fallback
I haven’t ventured far today. Working with the National Trust in Newton Wood on various odd jobs: clearing leaves from the paths and cutting down sycamore saplings. Newton Wood in north-facing so mostly in the shade. I did manage to snatch this shot of the Topping and the Summer-house on the walk home. I did…
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How to recognise different trees from quite a long way away: No. 2 – The Yew
So the sketch in Monty Python’s Flying Circus might have progressed had it gone on past No. 1 – The Larch. Wet and wild today so hugged the forest. I came across this yew tree with a distinct browsing line. This surprised me. I thought the needles were toxic but it turns out deer can…
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“Look closely at nature. Every species is a masterpiece, exquisitely adapted to the particular environment in which it has survived. Who are we to destroy or even diminish biodiversity?”
I’ve run in the hills and the countryside all my life. Tearing around with the intention of getting back as soon as possible. Work and family life meant an efficient use of available time. But the upshot of retirement and covid are more relaxing outings. I am quite happy just sauntering around aimlessly looking at…