• Why?

    Why?

    All acts of vandalism are just mindless and irresponsible but some defy any sort of explanation whatsoever. Look closely to the right of the seat and you can see a patch of wall that has been repaired. I reported this to the National Trust just last week and they have promptly been up and repaired…

  • “Three Legs”

    “Three Legs”

    Prompted by the mention of Prod Howe a couple of days ago, I chose a revisit today. In the article referred to, a key rationalisation was the fact that Roseberry could be seen from it, and sure enough the hill was just peeping over the brow of the moor. I wouldn’t go as far as…

  • Ravensgill, Commondale

    Ravensgill, Commondale

    When The Commondale Brick & Pipe Works closed its gates for good in 1947, this would have been a very different scene probably with no tree or blade of grass to be seen. It is now a Scout camp, so not normally accessible. I took the opportunity to search the beck for a memorial carved…

  • The Scugdale ‘Loop’

    The Scugdale ‘Loop’

    I was interested to read of a Neolithic “ritualised route” around Scugdale that was published in the journal of the Teesside Archaeological Society The authors conjecture that the route starts at Sheep Wash near the Cod Beck reservoir, climbs the Red Way estate track on to Near Moor, and follows the skyline of Scugdale eastwards…

  • In search of prehistoric rock art

    In search of prehistoric rock art

    What a dreich morning. Low cloud meant it was a day not conducive for photography, so I went to look for some prehistoric rock art on Garfit Gap. Garfit Gap is the col between the Wainstones and Cold Moor and contains many boulders on which with rock art has been identified. Now I’ve looked for…

  • Happy Michaelmas Day!

    Happy Michaelmas Day!

    Or Happy Feast of Michael and All Angels, which sounds even more of a mouthful. A day spent In Dove Dale, a National Trust property leading from Dalby Forest. The dale is a peaceful grassy valley with rushy flushes, bracken and scattered trees along a meandering stream. It is not grazed and is therefore sub-optimal…

  • Winter is coming

    Winter is coming

    A veil shrouds the ‘Four Sisters’ — Hasty Bank, Cold Moor, Cringle Moor and Carlton Moor. Mornings are getting damper. There’s a chill in the air. Winter is coming. I am half way up Park Nab on the Baysdale Road, killing an hour before the archaeological dig at a medieval chapel at Kildale. Today was…

  • Percy Cross Rigg

    Percy Cross Rigg

    Without looking at the map, I would have said the track along Percy Cross Rigg, or to use its Medieval name, Ernaldsti, on its journey south across Great Ayton and Kildale Moors, and on to Westerdale follows a pretty straight route. But this telescopic photo shows just how sinuous it actually is. The name is…

  • Aireyholme Farm, Cliff Rigg and Great Ayton village

    Aireyholme Farm, Cliff Rigg and Great Ayton village

    Wednesday, the 26th of September, 1917. William Arthur Trembath opens his eyes and blinks as they adjust to the hazy morning sun. It’s silent yet he is vaguely aware all around him is a frenzy of activity. The Battalion is consolidating their newly gained positions, connecting and deepening shell holes to form new trenches. He…

  • Suart’s Reservoir

    Suart’s Reservoir

    A busy weekend near Staveley in the Kent valley, “gateway to the Lakes”. Yesterday saw a return to Gurnal Dubs which visited in 2016 during the supervision of a DoE expedition. Today Suart’s Reservoir which is on the south side of the valley in the parish of Nether Staveley. It is entirely on farmland with…

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