The New Lyke Wake Club

A Family Tradition – Heloise and Claire

I would like to register myself and my friend’s Lyke Wake Walk completion date and time with yourselves. 

Heloise Fowler and Claire Morton.

We started it on 20th June 2026 at 09.09am and finished on 21st June 2026 at 08.04am, a time of 22hrs 55mins. 

I thought it would be a lovely date due to the Summer Solstice and Father’s Day. My father Ian Milsom (Son of John Milsom – Fylingthorpe Ships in Bottles) sadly passed away earlier this year, and has completed the Lyke Wake Walk five times as a Cub Scout leader. I really hope you have him registered in your archives. Fingers crossed anyway. I thought this would be a good challenge to do in his memory. 

I’ve written a little report below for you all to read and a few photos too. I hope you enjoy the read. 

Over the weekend for Summer Solstice and Father’s Day, myself and my amazing friend Claire Morton decided to walk the LYKE WAKE WALK Challenge. 40 miles within 24 hours across the North York Moors from Osmotherley to Ravenscar in memory of our wonderful Dads. My Dad did this 5 TIMES! I mean wow, it was very hard and hats off to him for doing it! I visited his final resting place afterwards in Robin Hoods Bay and just said ‘I can’t believe you did that more than once!’ 

The actual terrain was stunning and it was a gorgeous day. The Cleveland Hills were hard but beautiful and loads of people about. We also came across baby grouse on the way to the Lion Inn, where we chilled and prepared for the night time section, obviously with shandy and chips lol. Essentials. 

The next section after leaving the Coast to Coast Path, we then had pure moorland and could see RAF Fylingdales in the distance. The terrain was a mixture of hard and soft worn footpaths and bogs. The heather was just starting to come out and there were stunning cotton plants in the waters around us. The Curlews were also nesting, and we got told off by them for walking the trail. The sunset was glorious and we could see for miles, I also loved that the sun never really went down, there was a faint glow in the horizon which was really special. At about 1.30am we just sat on a rock, turned off our head torches and looked up at the night sky which was absolutely spectacular. We could see the space station too, another truly special moment. We were greeted with a dawn chorus at about 2.30am and at about 3am the sun started to rise again, where we had a gorgeous sunrise.

Across the last 10km we had a mixture of sea fret and sun and came across Lilla Cross and lots of walkers and runners doing ultra marathons.The last hill was a slog and we were truly worn out by the last few kms. But it was so worth it and I’m so proud we completed it. 

It’s definitely a challenge though. We completed it in 22hrs 55mins in the end and that included all the stops and shandy at Blakey Ridge, Lion Inn. 

I went and lit a candle for my Dad in Bay afterwards and sat by his grave for a while telling him all about it. 

A wonderful unforgettable experience 

Thankyou again for all you do.

Kind Regards 

Heloise Fowler nee Milsom