An even better way for weather today; a pleasant mix of sun and cloud with perfect temperatures for walking. We were away early from Gribdale Gate, climbing quickly onto the moor once moor where we followed the edge with excellent views across to Roseberry Topping, now our next objective. The path first descends before climbing up to marrow ridge to the fine summit commanding 360 degree views: back over the moors, north to industrial Teeside and east to today's final distant objective. From here we had our first sight of the sea which will become our close neighbour for the second half of the walk. From the summit we were able to look down on Great Broughton and Newton Woods which seemed, from this vantage point, to be full of bluebells; a photographic target for tomorrow.
Eventually we had to drag ourselves away from the summit and, for the fist time, leave this fine hill behind us. The walk took us first across moorland and then gradually descending through the beautiful Guisborough Forest which kept providing superb viewpoints to the coast and our destination.
Eventually we dropped down to the main road before climbing through coconut scented gorse bushes to the opposite hillside. Now came a gradual descent through, first farmland, and then the outskirts of Skelton before reaching the beautiful gorge of Sketlton and Saltburn Beck. Down here we were mightily impressed, first by the towering railway viaduct crossing the valley and then by the mass of ramsons or wild garlic that filled the woods. The viaduct carries the railway to Boulby mine, with the deepest mineshaft in England, its only destination.
Finally we emerged into the lovely Victorian seaside town of Saltburn. We were rather late for cups of tea here so we returned to the Wainstones where it was time for pints of brown and frothy!!
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Starting at the car park at Clay bank, today's walk involved a huge loop into the moors in order to remain on the top of the moor edge. At one point we were actually heading away from our finishing point. We crossed Round Hill, the highest point of the moors at 1,489 feet (454m) with its trig point standing on top of a Bronze Age burial mound. We continued along broad land rover tracks until we reached Bloworth Crossing. Today this is a crossroads for walkers; a junction for the Lyke Wake Walk, Coast to Coast and Cleveland Way long distance footpaths and sits in the middle of featureless moorland. It is difficult to believe that for 70 years from 1861-1929 it was so busy with travellers on the Rudland Rigg road and rail traffic from the mines in Rosedale carrying ironstone to the Teeside blast furnaces that it warranted level crossing gates and a gatekeeper.
Our route continued along the ancient track-way for a further two and a half miles before descending from Tidy Brown Hill to Kildale where we crossed the Esk Valley railway. All that remained now was a steep pull up a section of road before climbing gently through woodland to Captain Cook's Monument on Easby Moor. On the final descent to the car we began to get closer views of Roseberry Topping which for so long had been hanging tantalisingly on the horizon..
By the time the other car had been collected from Clay Bank it was well past beer o'clock so it was a relief to book into the Wainstones hotel where thirsts were quenched.
