Archive for July, 2018

Report of crossings of Lyke Wake Walk

Friday, July 13th, 2018

Gene Robinson 30th crossing.
Martin Robinson 2nd crossing.

Depart Ravenscar 8.11 pm Friday 6th July 2018.
Arrive Scarth Wood Moor 7.20pm Saturday 7th July 2018.
Total time 23 hours 9 minutes.
Total walking time 15 hours 13 minutes.

Three support stops.
Ellerbeck Bridge about 5 hours including 3-4 hours sleep.
Ralph Cross and Clay Bank Top between 1 and 1½ hours each.
Shorter rests along the way.

Weather and conditions excellent.

From August 1963 I (GR) walked Lyke Wake Walk regularly and by September 1980 had crossed 27 times. Thereafter (for various reasons.) crossings 28 and 29 didn’t come until 1990 and 1999 respectively and until this year I had not dirged in the 21st century/3rd millennium.
Lyke Wake lure lurked on though and when I recently decided to give it another (final?) go I thought I’d wait until reaching 75 years of youth, (which I did 11-2-18)
Son Martin had crossed with me in 1999. He’d come with me again.
Weather was perfect, hot after half way and there wasn’t a bog in sight. My driest crossing without doubt, (or should that be drought?)
There are seven OS triangulation pillars on or near the route. Martin and I visited them all. The one on Botton Head is easily included, although many bypass, Simon Howe requires a short but deliberate detour as does Loose Howe. This one is in a sorry state and is not only leaning, but sinking. We all know the feeling, but the flush bracket here is only just accessible.
The tester though is Louven Howe, which needs not just a detour but the determination not to allow Lilla Howe to be neglected in its stead. Lilla is a Lyke Wake highlight. Lilla must not be missed.
Would it be daft to suggest that the Lyke Wake Club take these (magnificent) seven under its wing? “Do” them up a bit, give ‘em a lick of paint. Don’t know what OS might say but modern technology has consigned these stones to history, there to join an illustrious band stretching from one end of the walk to the other.

Lyke Wake Triangulation Pillar Numbers

Scarth Wood Moor S4413
Carlton Bank S4421
Botton Head (Round Hill) 2988
Loose Howe 2955
Simon Howe S4370
Louven Howe S4392
Beacon Howes S1521

Gene Robinson 30 crossings (17 west-east)
Martin Robinson 2 crossings (1 west-east)

Crossing Report: Saturday 16th June 2018

Sunday, July 8th, 2018

After parking my car in the Sheepwash car park at the head of Cod Beck Reservoir, the first problem that faced me in this attempt at completing the Lyke Wake Walk was deciding on and locating the starting point. The route description provided at http://lykewake.org/route.php refers to a Stone at grid reference 470994. I could find no stone of any significance at that point, so resolved on starting from the stone inscribed “LYKE WAKE WALK” at grid reference SE467992 and also taking in what some consider the official start of the walk: the Ordnance Survey trig point at SE459997.

I started off at about 5:45 in fine weather thinking that I would have plenty of time to complete the walk in daylight. Here comes my first lesson learnt: just because I’ve previously completed a 40 mile challenge walk in southern England on well made up paths in 12 hours doesn’t mean the same can be achieved over the North York Moors, so don’t dawdle, keep moving!

The weather remained fine until I reached the Lion Inn, and it was about then that I heard distant thunder, and shortly afterwards there was a brief shower. Soon after passing Shunner Howe, I could see another storm approaching, and quickly found myself walking through heavy rain accompanied by thunder and lightning. My second lesson learnt was to check that waterproofs really are waterproof; my supposedly waterproof trousers certainly weren’t, but fortunately the storm soon passed and the weather remained dry for the remainder of the walk.

For a long time I could see RAF Fylingdales in the distance, and for a long time it didn’t seem to get any closer, but eventually I passed it, though it was about then that I realised I wouldn’t complete the walk in daylight. With just about sufficient light not to need my head torch, I was approaching the final trig point at NZ969011 when I was halted in my tracks by a sound I haven’t heard in many years: the churring of a nightjar, which was sitting on top of a bush close to the path; I stopped to listen for several minutes. At about 10:45 pm, 17 hours after starting, I reached the trig point, and then continued to the Raven Hall Hotel, the bar of which is apparently the traditional end point for the walk. I expect the bar was closed by the time I reached Ravenscar, but I didn’t investigate as all I wanted to do by this time was find somewhere to pitch my tent and get some sleep.

The following morning, fortunately feeling refreshed, I was faced with getting back to my starting point. Retracing my steps didn’t seem appealing, so instead I walked the 9 miles into Whitby along the old railway track, caught the train to Battersby – a pleasant hour long journey – and then walked the remaining 12 miles back to my starting point by the shortest and easiest route I could find.

David Tyers

******* Please note, David is quite correct. The start shown on our website map is incorrect. I will get that sorted as soon as possible. Thanks for pointing this out *********

Gerry.