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Morpeth Castle
Morpeth Castle; or what remains of it. This is actually just the gatehouse and dates from the 1340s. Very little is left of the rest of the castle. But even though this gatehouse has been much altered throughout the centuries it is a Scheduled Ancient Monument and Grade I listed building. It is now used as a holiday…
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Cliff Rigg
Dashed up to Cliff Rigg above Great Ayton to catch the sunset. Not spectacular but good after a dull overcast morning.
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Castleton Rigg
I heard yesterday that a new sculpture is being planned to be erected on Castleton Rigg over looking Westerdale. I just had to have a look at the place so I made that my mission for the day. Castleton Rigg is a long finger of prime grouse moorland separating Westerdale with Danby Dale. It is not walked…
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Staindale Beck
A quiet dale just outside the eastern edge of Dalby Forest Park with a wooded beck of crystal clear waters with small trout on one of the National Trust’s working farms. The name Stain Dale comes from the Norse and means a ‘stony valley’ probably because of the rock formations higher up the valley at the Bridestones.
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Roseberry Common
I have posted a photo of this new downhill mountain bike track on Ryston Bank before. It’s quite a feat of engineering. I don’t begrudge the building of the track but I am concerned about the source of the sandstone rocks used to make the berms and ramps. Roseberry Common, beyond the fence and ruined dry stone…
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Roseberry in the distance
A nice view of Roseberry Topping across the vale of Cleveland. But it is the jumbled collection of rocks below the Wain Stones that has long intrigued me. Dumped there by the last glacier that passed by on its way southwards it must have provided ideal temporary shelter with good views for mesolithic man as he began the…
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Hutton Moor
This path across Hutton Moor provides a pleasant alternative from the hard gravel of the parallel forestry track on the other side of the fence. In spite of the heather moorland being Open Access Land the path is frequently used by dog walkers and mountain bikers. It is also a SSSI. A week ago I was running…
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Leven Vale
My DofE group today decided to explore the upper reaches of the River Leven. A quiet, unfrequented area of heather moorland on a warm, sunny day giving views I’ve never seen before. In the centre on the far side of the valley is the tall chimney of the Warren Moor Ironstone Mine. I’ve been asked to include…
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Elder Flowers
How wonderful to be with a DofE group today who were keen to understand and try out out edible wild plants. The small delicate flowers of the Elder were boiled up with sugar and a lemon flavoured drink powder (they didn’t have an orange or lemon). The elder flower water tasted good and hopefully will…
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Buttermere Valley
It started off as a bike ride around Rosedale on the North York Moors. Then my young scion suggested a day trip to Lakes instead. So that’s how I ended up climbing Honister Pass and the first time in the Lakes without going on the fells.
Care to comment?