The New Lyke Wake Club

Crossing 09th July 2020.

Although the Lyke Wake Walk had been on our radar for a good while, it wasn’t until about a week before we set off from Osmotherley we finally decided to do it. We realised that all the walking/running/cycling we had done during Covid lockdown had set us in great stead for a 40 mile hill walk.
Myself and my neighbouring farmer Simon Casswell duly set off from North Lincolnshire at 3am on Thursday 9th of July 2020. Driving up the A1 in torrential rain it was fairly obvious that things were going to be a bit damp on the moors but amazingly when we pulled into the car park the rain stopped. After pulling on our boots, a few last sips of coffee and a few photos at the Lyke Wake Stone, we started walking at 4.46am

The first few miles of the walk were great, a very easy and picturesque start to any walk we have ever done. Great variety with hills, streams, woodland, fields all on good tracks, we were wondering what all the fuss was about………and then the hills came.

The climb onto Live Moor was steep but relatively short and over the next seven miles the constant ups and downs were fairly gruelling. Whilst they weren’t the most challenging hills we had ever encountered they were fairly relentless and tiring. That said the views looking north to Middlesborough were stunning, Roseberry Topping looking fantastic from a distance. Gold Hill, Carlton Bank, Lordstones, Cringle Moor, Wainstones, Hasty Bank came and went and it was a relief to get to Round Hill at 8.44 for a bit of brekky and where things levelled out a bit. The section from Bloworth Crossing to the Lion at Blakey was a very welcome easy few miles along the old railway track which enabled us to get some quick miles under our belt.
We got to the Lion just before 11am where we were greeted by my father driving the support vehicle who made we were refuelled with sandwiches and soup. After 20 minutes and a change of shirt and socks we were on the move again.
We ventured north on the road and then navigated our way round to the start of the boggy section, which we knew after all the rain they were going to be a nightmare. We headed west down to Shunner Howe, treading carefully but failing not to end up knee deep in peat and mud, finding the path wasn’t difficult but keeping upright was.

The sight of Fylingdales never getting bigger was quite demoralising but on we went. Blue man I th moss was passed and we made our way down into the Wheeldale ravine where we were gutted to see water well above the stepping stones, which led me to get very wet feet.

Out the other side, Simon Howe was soon reached and then luckily Eller Beck appeared, where my father was waiting with more sandwiches and more importantly dry socks. After a short break we set off again for the last few miles.

Lilla Howe was conquered and at that point the finish line could be seen, albeit a long way away. Jugger Howe ravine proved a real sting in the tale but we managed before crossing the A171 and marching on to Ravenscar which we reached at approx. 6.30pm. This gave us a time of 13 hours 44 which we were really quite chuffed with.
A great walk, a real challenge and one I highly recommend.

Charles Anyan & Simon Casswell