The New Lyke Wake Club
16th/17th August 2024. Family Crossing. Graham North.
Starting Time – 16.30 from the LWW Stone Cod Beck Reservoir
Finish Time – 15.28 at the LWW Stone near the Beacon Ravenscar
Walking Time – 18 hours 32 minutes and 27 seconds
Total Time – 22 hours 58 minutes
Distance 41.67 miles
Participants
Guide – Graham North
Claire Taylor
Denise Greig
Leigh Greig
Matty Greig (unfortunately did not complete)
Harry Greig
Joel Greig
The Lyke Wake Walk has always had a special place in our family with Dad doing it when he was a PTI in the army and many times since. He introduced two generations of the family to it and this crossing would introduce a third.
Denise and Claire had a burning desire to carry on the family tradition to complete the LWW and had decided this was the year to do it. As I’d completed more than a few crossings already, know the moors well from growing up close by and have spent many hours running in the area, I volunteered to guide them across. Once we had decided to do it our small party soon grew to seven. The group consisted of my partner Claire, my big sister Denise, who not too long had a full knee replacement, two of my nephews Leigh/Matty and two of my great nephews Harry/Joel both only 14.
So, with logistics and back up sorted we set off at 16.30pm on a warm Friday evening in August and headed up and over Scarth Wood Moor, down through Clain Wood and into Scugdale. Things were going well for most of us, as they should on fresh feet and legs, so we made steady progress as we traversed the Cleveland Hills. However, that was to change very quickly. Not long before our first support point at Clay Bank Matty started to suffer with foot pain and being less than ten miles in that was not a good sign. We pushed on to the support point for a welcome break, especially for Matty where he promptly changed his boots.
After some pot noodles (food of champions, not really, they are pretty bad but do the job) we set off again, headtorches lighting the way we climbed Urra Moor and headed towards Bloworth Crossing.
From here we kept up a good pace along the old railway line and made a decent progress arriving at our next support point at White Cross an hour ahead of our schedule. Unfortunately, the increased pace had took a further toll on Matty’s feet and he decided enough was enough at this point. He wasn’t too disheartened though, as he admitted he had never walked anything over five miles, so doing just over 20 miles was a PB for him. Maybe next time he might do some training before embarking on a 40 + plus mile walk across the moors but we shall see.
So, after some lovely homemade cakes and teas/coffee the six of us set off towards Shunner Howe. This section was much slower as expected traversing the bogs and reed beds in the dark. No issues though and we eventually popped out on the Hamer Road to meet our support, who like a tag team had changed over since the last stop. There were some weary faces about by this point and we all had wet feet, so as well as food it was a change of socks and for some shoes too. Whilst stopped the sun rose which gave a boost and after some lovely homemade sandwiches we were off again.
The section towards Wheeldale Moor was a lot drier than expected, but once over the initial soft peat the rocky section over to the Roman Road slowed the group down and took its toll on the feet. Nevertheless, we arrived at Roman Road for a quick cuppa and then set off again down over the stepping stones and up Howl Moor to Simon Howe. A quick rest to take in the view and then down to Ellerbeck to meet our support.
It was very tempting for everyone to stay far too long here
so we had a quick bite to eat, discarded some layers and set off again up the
gentle climb to Lilla Cross (my favourite place on the moors). Shortly after
leaving Ellerbeck Bridge the two young lads decided, they’d had enough of our
leisurely pace and sped off up towards Lilla Howe. That was the last we saw of
them, apart from dots in the distance, until the finish. I don’t know exactly
what time they finished so they’ll just have to settle for our finish time. This
section for the rest of us was uneventful. A death march for most of the group
with various aches and pains making each step more difficult. At Jugger Howe Leigh
decided his feet were so painful, he was going to get this over with so pushed
on over the top, across the Scarborough Road and stomped up the final incline
to the finish. This left three of us making slow but steady progress towards
the Scarborough Road.
No stopping here it was straight over the busy road and the short climb back onto the moor. Then just a case of one in front of the other as we soon climbed and reached the finish. Where we were met by other family members and the boys who had finished earlier. Everyone was then presented with a well-earned LWW badge and received the usual flowers (another family tradition) well it as a wake after all
So that was it all over. Another crossing for me and my first leading a group. Second crossing for Leigh and first crossings for Claire, Denise, Harry, and Joel, who were now the 3rd generation of the family to complete the Lyke Wake Walk.
We are now thinking of making this an annual event and some of us are considering trying a double crossing. We shall see…………..