The New Lyke Wake Club

Crossing 09-10th May 2021. Mark Noble.

On Sunday 9th of May I strapped on my backpack, took a final check of my maps and GPS, then headed out of door to start my journey to Osmotherley.
Train delays and wedged caravans on the narrow roads towards Cod Beck Reservoir meant that I finally set off at 12.30pm. Unlike most who set off at some ungodly hour, I wasn’t in any particular rush as the plan was always to wild camp at around the halfway point.


The weather looked good, if anything a tad warm. The first 10 miles were fantastic and I found myself bumbling alongside the Hardmoor race series. Unfortunately no offers of refreshments at each checkpoint!
Passing over the road to Hasty Bank and onto the moors was the last time I was to see anyone until the end of the walk.
I was making really good progress despite having 10kg of camping gear on my back and as I reached The Lion at Blakey thoughts turned to where I was going to pitch my tent. Randomly I spotted an Adder snake shortly after and made a note to myself to remember to zip my tent door tightly shut!
The light was fading with grey skies and light rain. I had seen a trig point just off the path and headed to set up for the night.
During my research I was aware/dreading the ‘bogs’ which many reports mention. There had been rain on and off for the past 48 hours but previous to that it had been dry for at least a couple of weeks so I was quietly hopeful.
Unfortunately, the ground was getting wetter with every step. The trig point on Rosedale Moor was a non starter as it was surrounded by water. It is the smallest trig point I’ve seen as it must have sunk into the ground. 200 yards away I found a small square of earth and whipped the tent up sharpish. 21 miles in and good progress was being made.

Up and off after a strong coffee, the next few miles were a zig zag of avoiding bogs I’d heard so much about. I’d made a decision to cross in trail shoes rather than boots and the waterproof socks were working overtime!
Crossing Wheeldale Beck via the steppingstones was good fun. Any more rain would have made this impassable.


The sun was shining, the legs were starting to ache but I knew I was on the home straight. I missed the stream train on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway by minutes as I watched it from the next hill.
RAF Fylingdales had been spotted a few miles earlier and previous hikers had spoken of it never getting any closer despite eating the miles up. I can confirm that to be true!
I hit the radio mast and trig point after a total moving time of 12 hours and 20 minutes over the two days (14 hours elapsed time).
A short walk followed down into Ravenscar to get a taxi to Scarborough. The beer waiting for the train tasted superb and I raised a smile as the heavens opened and the rain bounced off the pavement.