A-Walking: Frosterley Circular

All of our walks today took the form of circular routes in the Weardale area. These all started and finished in Frosterley {NZ 024 369}. Jane Thompson (pictured below) led the A-Walk along a superb route that took in sections of both Weardale and Teesdale.


Leaving Frosterley at about 10:30 am on a south-westerly bearing, we undertook our first climb of the day (up to Hill End) and then made our way to Bollihope. From here we had a long climb up to the B6278 minor road at {NY 991 320}. Now heading south, we made our way to Sharnberry Gill and stopped for lunch near the old disused lead mines at {NZ 011 308}.

After a pleasant lunch - sitting in the sun - we made our way through the forest at Sharnberry Flat and then had a good climb up onto Black Hill and Brown Law. After crossing Hamsterley Common, we arrived at the Meeting of the Grains {NZ 050 316}. From here we made our way across Pikeston Fell and, after crossing North Grain Beck, we climbed up-hill to the trig point at {NZ 038 339} - where we stopped for a well-earned tea break.

We started our descent back into Weardale at {NZ 042 344} - just to the east of the Elephant Trees. Our descent-route took us around Harvey Hill to West Biggins Farm - where we encountered some beautiful displays of daffodils (a sure sign that Spring is on its way!).

Continuing down-hill, we negotiated a route to the railway level-crossing at {NZ 035 368} and then followed the public footpath along the south bank of the River Wear in order to reach the new footbridge at {NZ 030 367}. After crossing over the river, we walked along the riverside footpath through Frosterley in order to reach our destination point at about 16:20 pm.

The weather we experienced today was truely glorious! Lots of sunshine, lovely blue skies and some very gentle breezes to cool us down. Today's conditions were a remarkable contrast to those we encountered when we did the pre-walk check back in January (click here to see a description and photos).

I am sure that we would all wish to thank Jane for an excellent walk and a great day out!

Some of the photos that we took during today's walking expedition can be seen by clicking on the pink button below:


Credits:
Many thanks to Jane Thompson and Phil Barker for taking the photographs.

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Early-April Mid-Week Walking(2012-04-05)

On Thursday, 5th April, Stockton Rambling Club have a mid-week walk in the Swainby area of the North York Moors. Please meet at 10.30 am in Swainby {NZ 476 021} - see the following map.


The walk will not be longer than 8 miles (C-Pace).
For further details ring 01642-882507.

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Sunday Walking to Masham

On Sunday, 1st April, the Stockton Rambling Club will have three walks in the West Tanfield area of North Yorkshire. All walks will finish in Masham {SE 223 809} - see the following map.

Crown Copyright (2010). All rights reserved. Licence No. 100046831.
Produced using Anquet Maps.

The A-walk will start at Aiskew {SE 269 884} and will take in Firby, Snape, Nosterfield, West Tanfield and Mickley.

The B-walk will commence at Firby Grange {SE 258 868} and will visit Snape, Well, Nosterfield, West Tanfield and Mickley.

The C-walk will set off from North Stainley
{SE 286 769} and will pass near the River Ure, Tanfield Bridge and Mickley.

This is a Route 1 coach pick up and is also an early start (Billingham: 9.00 am, Stockton: 9.15 am and Acklam: 9.30 am).

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Late-March Mid-Week Walking(2012-03-29)

On Thursday, 29th March, Stockton Rambling Club have a mid-week walk in the Sherburn area of County Durham. Please meet at 10.30 am at the Leisure Centre (off the B1283 road) {NZ 315 424} - see the following map.


The walk will not be longer than 10 miles (B-pace).
For further details ring 01740-644347.

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Sunday Walking - Frosterley Circular Walks

On Sunday, 25th March, the Stockton Rambling Club will have three walks in the Weardale area of County Durham. All walks will start and finish in Frosterley {NZ 023 369} - see the following map.

Crown Copyright (2012). All rights reserved. Licence No. 100046831.
Produced using Anquet Maps.

The A-walk will take in Hawkwood Burn, Sharnberry Gill, Black Hill, Pikeston Fell, the Elephant Trees and West Biggins.

The B-walk will visit Hawkwood Burn, Long Man, Pawlaw Pike and West Biggins.

The C-walk will pass through Black Allotment, Allotment House and Pye Close.

This is a Route 3 coach pick up and is also an early start (Acklam: 9.00 am, Stockton: 9.15 am and Billingham: 9.30 am).

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Mid-March Mid-Week Walking(2012-03-21)

On Wednesday, 21st March, Stockton Rambling Club have a mid-week walk in the Egglescliffe area of Stockton-on-Tees. Please meet at 10.30 am at the Pot and Glass hostelry - see the following map.

Crown Copyright (2009). All rights reserved. Licence No. 100046831.
Produced using Anquet Maps.

The walk will not be longer than 5 miles (D-pace).
For further details ring 01642-769579.

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Sunday Walking to the Flask Inn

On Sunday, 18th March, the Stockton Rambling Club will have three walks in the Harwood Dale area of the North York Moors. All walks will finish at the Flask Inn {NZ 930 007} - see the following map.

Crown Copyright (2010). All rights reserved. Licence No. 100046831.
Produced using Anquet Maps.

The A-walk will start at Scalby {TA 012 905} and will take in Coomboots Brow, Silpho, Reasty Hill Top, Brown Hill and a section of the Lyke Wake Walk.

The B-walk will commence at Cloughton {TA 009 947} and will visit Silpho Brow, Reasty Hill Top, Harwood Dale and Pye Rigg.

The C-walk will also set off from Cloughton
and will pass through The Hulleys,Cloughton Moor House, Prior Wath and Pye Rigg.

This is a Route 1 coach pick up and is also an early start (Billingham: 9.00 am, Stockton: 9.15 am and Acklam: 9.30 am).

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SPECIAL EVENT: Dinner at Middlesbrough College

On Thursday, 15th March, Stockton Rambling Club has a special event organised. This will take the form of dinner at Middlesbrough College.

Please meet at 6.00 pm for a 6.30 pm start.
The cost of this event is £13.00 and must be pre-booked.

For further details on this event please contact Bill McTimoney on 01740-644347.

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Sunday Walking to Lealholm

On Sunday, 11th March, the Stockton Rambling Club will have three walks in the Glaisdale area of the North York Moors. All walks will finish in Lealholm {NZ 763 077} - see the following map.

Crown Copyright (2010). All rights reserved. Licence No. 100046831.
Produced using Anquet Maps.

The A-walk will start at the Lion Inn {SE 679 996} and will take in Thorgill, Rosedale, North Dale, Lamb Fold Hill and Nab End.

The B-walk will commence at Castleton {NZ 684 079} and will visit Botton Farm, Trough House, Glaisdale Rigg and Low Moor.

The C-walk will also set off from Castleton and will pass through Church House, Jack Sledge Road, Crag Wood and Houlsyke.

This is a Route 1 coach pick up and is also an early start (Billingham: 9.00 am, Stockton: 9.15 am and Acklam: 9.30 am).

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A-Walking: Helmsley to Sutton Bank

Well, would you believe it! For the first time this year our coach was over-subscribed! Sadly, we had to turn away one of our valued members at the Acklam pick-up point.

On a much happier note, Jane Thompson (pictured below) successfully led a group of nine A-walkers on a sixteen-mile trek from Helmsley to Sutton Bank.



The walk started from the village square in Helmsley and finished at the visitor-centre at Sutton Bank. From Helmsley we followed the route of the Ebor Way (see note below) - along the bank of the River Ebor and then in a south-westerly direction towards Sproxton Hall. From the village of Sproxton we proceeded to Hag Lane where we encountered our first major climb - up to Pry Rigg Plantation via Holly Bower Farm. From here we descended to the village of Ampleforth. We had a short lunch-stop at 12:58 pm {SE 569 783} - in the fields just beyond Ampleforth.

Moving in a westerly direction, we made our way to Byland Abbey and from there we proceeded to Olstead Grange and the small village of Kilburn. As we approached the village there were some good views of the famous ‘White Horse’. From Kilburn we headed north along Carr Lane in the direction of the horse; this took us towards the second major climb (a hard one) up onto the Cleveland Way.

During our ascent, we stopped for a short tea-break at 15.04 pm in the car park beneath the 'horse' {SE 514 812}. Surprisingly, someone seemed to have laid on refreshments for us! After a welcome cup of coffee, we continued our ascent from the car park up onto the Cleveland Way. From here, we had a fairly easy, but brisk, trek along a good footpath which took us to Sutton Bank.

We set off at 10:18 am and arrived at our destination at 15:45 pm. We therefore covered our 16-mile route in approximately 5 hrs and 27 mins - just in time for a cup of tea in the cafe at the North York Moors visitor-centre.

Many thanks to Jane for organising such a great day out!

Some of the photos that we took during today's walking expedition can be seen by clicking on the pink button below:


Credits:
Many thanks to Jane Thompson and Phil Barker for taking the photographs.

Note:
The Ebor Way is a long-distance footpath (70 miles) that starts in Helmsley and finishes in Ilkley. Further details can be found here .

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