The New Lyke Wake Club

Would Walk Again: Alexander Roach

Account of the Lyke Wake Walk crossing on the 7th July

Beginning at 1:07 am I set out from the west stone by Osmotherly in the dark, following the Cleveland way through the night and up into the tops of the moors where there was a constant fog. I found it better to have lights off for this section as on the tops of the moors the white stone path shone out against the black of the moor.

I kept a steady pace climbing all three hills coming upon the impressive rock formations just as light was starting to arrive. I then walked without break until I came upon the Lion Inn where I was met with bacon and drinks, not from the bar as that was sadly closed, but from my dad who completed the walk with me last year.

I then walked with him for a mile or two where he turned back and I got lost trying to find the path. Once I found it I got lost again when it faded away in the valley by the long grass only to spot the marker stones on the horizon.

I followed them over the moors sticking to the trench I am debating calling the “bone road” or “ash road”. Due to the white rocks on black soil. The rest of the trip was largely uneventful, I listened to my audiobooks and waved my stick around only taking a couple 20 minute breaks throughout.

I reached Fylingdales and still could not find the military road’s start so I trudged up the bog path. Eventually however I got onto it and once I reached the concrete road I jogged the rest of the way to Ravenscar radio mast for a time of 17 hours 31 minutes. 

One thing to note is that my good experience  was caused by my lack of gear. I had only a 3L water pack and a waist pouch with first aid kit attached, and os course a wooden walking stick I found on trail. Thus I could travel fast and light. 

Overall pleasant if hot, would walk again

5 Brave Souls: Ali Cox

Hi – walk commenced at 2.30am on 21 June 2025. A very hot day indeed

5 brave souls set off to complete the Lyke Wake Walk. Sue Turner, Ali Cox, Dod Tinkler, David Koslow and Andy Goodwin. Raising money for Cancer Research UK.

We all had trained hard for the walk which was a good job as it pushed us all to our limits.

We couldn’t have done it without our trusty support team of Clare Koslow, Ellie Turner and George the motorhome.

The walk was completed in 19hrs and 18mins that includes all our stops at checkpoints for refueling our bodies and minds. It was an amazing achievement for our group who’s average age of 60 years young and are all here to live to tell the tale.

A thought to anyone attempting it: Pain is temporary … Glory lasts forever … 

First Crossing: Alastair Basden

Reporting a crossing, East to West.

We started at 5:30am on 5th July at the Ravenscar mast (having walked up from the nearby Bent Rigg Farm campsite, and finished at 21:28 at the LWW stone at Cod Beck.

A group of 4, with 2x 17 year olds (M&F), 18 year old (M) and 46 year old (M): Miriam Basden, Hector Sequera, Iain Ayres, Alastair Basden, all from Durham.

We had a strong head wind all the way, but the weather was otherwise good, and dry underfoot.  Very quiet along most of the route.  This was a first crossing for all of us, and we are now planning to cross West to East!

Thanks, Alastair.

New Lyke Wake Club Visit to RAF Fylingdales

Monday 30th June 2025

Various factors, predominantly Covid 19, meant that it took over five years for this visit to come off … still, it was very much worth the wait. A hot Summer day … pretty much unheard of at Fylingdales!

First of all, we were greeted by a friendly security guard who has completed 3 Lyke Wake crossings and numerous other activities in the Lake District … we realised that we were amongst friends and like-minded souls.

Our concept that the military control the base was soon contradicted. The sheep rule, occupying many inconvenient spaces and moving at a pace of their choice … usually, a slow shuffle. We began with a good chuckle as we were down as the New Wyke Lake Club which seemed more fitting than our actual name…..especially on those wet crossings!

Flight Lieutenant Richard Weeks, the Media and Communications Officer at RAF Fylingdales, introduced us to Sarah Newton who makes the show happen. The tea and coffee that began the experience was a lovely surprise, especially as many attendees from various regions were meeting for the first time. Rich and Sarah ran a very slick show with a mixture of videos and talks, followed by Q&A. The 90 minutes tour concluded with a visit to the fascinating archive … time seemed to pass incredibly quickly.

The talk on the role of RAF Fylingdales was both informative and educational. The Lyke Wake Walk appeared on at least one of the many slides used.

Lessons Learned

• We are in Safe Hands.
• If you have any vanity (not a common thing after 33 miles of walking) best not to stop on Fylingdales Moor for a call of nature … the “all seeing eye” is very good.
• If you get lost, don’t climb the fence. Those dogs are alert, quick, and far faster than you.

Many thanks to R.A.F. Fylingdales

First Crossing: Stuart Weston

Hi there, just emailing you about a crossing that I made yesterday, my first ever.

I started at the LWW stone at Cod Beck at 03:30, and eventually arrived at the mast near Ravenscar at 20:30.  Two checkpoints were made with my dad who is a resident of Rosedale East, first at Lion Inn Blakey and then Eller Beck.

I should have completed it about 90 mins earlier, but accidentally headed south-east at Hamer and ended up close to the edge of Hartoft Wood, and eventually getting to Wheeldale Road via a broad track, approaching from the south-west.

Can hardly move this morning but it was all worth it.  The legs, knees, and feet will be less sore in a day or so, and in the future I could possibly contemplate doing it again, but east-to-west instead of west-to-east.

Thanks,

Stuart Weston

Fashion Boots: The Miller Twins

I’d like to report the crossing my twin (Ruth Willson) and I (Hillary Guerandel) completed on Saturday (28th June 2025).  I feel we may have been called Witches in the past but I guess it’s now official!!

Our Mum did the walk in Bally fashion boots (with a slight Cuban heel) back in 1972, we don’t know why but she did, not only was she the talk of the family she was so impressed by the boots she wrote to Bally to thank them (I thing she got some free slippers, I’m not sure she liked them).  She had our Dad as support and completed a slightly longer walk with some other relatives (the good old days when it started and finished in the respective villages).  But I digress!  As such the LWW has always been something on our to do list and so earlier this year my sister and I decided to bite the bullet.  Having grown up in Whitby we know the beautiful NY Moors and of course remember the Golf Balls.

We started at 06:14 after a small bicker about where the starting marker actually was (fairly obvious once we spotted it but we can be forgiven our confusion given the anti-social hour) and set off in what turned out to be a slightly overcast and windy day.  Two things we will be eternally grateful for given the heatwave that followed on Sunday.

Having never walked the Cleveland Way it was a great start to the day overlooking sights that were part of our childhood, such as Roseberry Topping and the Cleveland and Yorkshire Coastline.  We had a slight rude shock with the scrambly bouldery bit but with a strong wind behind us we took it in our stride.  Accompanied by the odd comment of “mum did this in fashion boots”.

Checkpoint 2 (Clay Bank) was a highlight as we were greeted by hot bacon sandwiches and tea, made by our brother (Andrew) and my husband (Alex) – the support team.  Two very friendly faces who were at every road crossing with water, snacks and words of encouragement (plus a sprinkle of sarcasm and banter).

We made good time to Checkpoint 3 where Andrew joined us for a 5 mile stretch of the walk, whilst Alex, had his “supporters’ pint” in the Lion Inn.  Turns out the distance between Checkpoint 3 and 4 is actually longer than 5 miles.  I cheerfully told my brother when he’d done 5 miles!  As he looked around seeing only the bog, he exclaimed in words I couldn’t share in full here, something along the lines of “well where’s Alex then?”.  With Ruth and I only just past the half way mark you can imagine our sympathy at our brother having to walk 6 miles instead of 5!  (“Just think Andrew – Mum did it in fashion boots”).

From Checkpoint 4 (Hammer Bank) we started to feel the pain, despite the Compeed (other blister plasters are available) I was developing one on my heel where I’d just got rid of the last one from training and another on my sole.  But fresh socks, hikers wool and a large portion of pasta helped us on the way.

From Fylingdales onwards we felt we were on our home turf and the end was definitely in sight but again the stretch to Checkpoint 5 near the Flask Inn was longer than the book promised.  There was also a particularly rude valley we had to traverse which we most certainly weren’t anticipating.  (Ok ok if I’d done a little more research it was clearly there and should have come as no surprise).  It was around here that Dad retraced his 1972 supporters steps and walked out to meet us, sensibly waiting at the top of what I now call “surprise valley”!  

Onto Checkpoint 6 with the mast looming and we were not going to stop apart from a quick high five to Mum, who was waiting at the car with the others, and an exclamation of “you did it in fashion boots!!”.

It was now the final, short stretch, the sun was setting over our home town of Whitby and the Mast was actually getting bigger albeit at a glacial pace.  On the horizon we spotted our support party and holding hands my twin and we made it to the stone marker at 21:07 for the first, and undoubtedly last, time.  (Unless of course the next generation picks up the gauntlet we were handed and we go to meet them.)

The walk was over, the support vehicles were there to transport us and more importantly the bar was still open so we popped into Ravenscar for a swifty that didn’t touch the sides.

Thanks to the supporters past and present, thanks to my sister for the company but mostly thanks to Mum for the inspiration.

The Miller Twins