A-Walking: Ebchester to Medomsley via High Mickley
Our three walks on Sunday, 24th March, each took place in the County Durham, Nurthumberland and Gateshead areas. Both the A-walk and the C-walk started
in Ebchester while the B-walk set off on a circular route from Medomsley. All of the walks finished in Medomsley.
The A-walk was led by Phil Barker - pictured below. There were five walkers in the group. The distance covered was 15.2 miles.
From our drop-off point near the church in Ebchester, we headed north over the River Derwent into Northumberland. After crossing the B6309 road-bridge we followed a clockwise circular route that took in Broadoak Quarry Nature Reserve, Hedley on the Hill, High Mickley, Penny Hill, Chopwell Wood and Blackhall Mill. We then returned, via the B6309 road-bridge to Ebchester - this time passing under the bridge rather than over it. From Ebchester we had a long, steep climb up over snow-laden fields in order to reach Medomsley.
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.
During the week beginning 1st April, Stockton Rambling Club will have
TWO mid-week walks available. One is an evening walk and the other is a day walk.
The evening walk is on Wednesday, 3rd April and will start at 7.00 pm from Stokesley Town Hall {NZ 524 085} - see the map below.
This walk will be not be longer than 6 miles (C-pace).
Please ring 01642-723378 for more details.
The day walk is on Thursday, 4th April. It will start at 10.30 am from Greatham {NZ 492 276} - see the map below.
Crown Copyright (2013). All rights reserved. Licence No.
100046831.
Produced using Anquet Maps.
The length of this walk will be up to 8 miles (C-pace).
Please telephone 01642-588198 for more details.
On Sunday, 31st March, the Stockton Rambling Club will have three walks in the Wensleydale area of North Yorkshire. All walks will finish in Bainbridge {SD 933 902} - see the following map.
Crown Copyright (2013). All rights reserved. Licence No.
100046831.
Produced using Anquet Maps.
The A-walk will start at Swinithwaite {SE 044 892} and will take in West Burton, Walden, Thoralby and Addlebrough.
The B-walk will also commence at Swinithwaite and will visit West Burton, Thoralby and Addlebrough
The C-walk will set off from Aysgarth
{SE 001 884} and will pass through Thornton Rust and Addlebrough.
This is a Route 2 coach pick-up (Billingham: 9.00 am, Acklam: 9.15 am and Stockton: 9.30 am).
Our three walks on Sunday, 17th March, each took place in the north-eastern area of the North York Moors. The A-walk started at Mickleby Hole, the B-Walk set off from Calais House and the C-Walk commenced at Freebrough. All of the walks finished in Saltburn.
The A-Walk was led by Peter Cull (pictured below). There were eight walkers in the group; we covered a distance of 14.5 miles. Some changes had to be made to the initial section of the route - due to erosion of the footpaths and the very muddy conditions under foot.
Setting off from our drop-off location at Mickleby Hole, we headed north along Coverdale Lane in order to reach the dismantled railway at {NZ 807 151}. Turning left along this, we made our way
to the minor road at {NZ 803 156} which took us into Runswick Bank Top . We stopped here for a short coffee-break.
From Runswick, we followed the route of the Cleveland Way in a north-westerly direction in order to reach Port Mulgrave and the small village of Staithes - where we stopped for our lunch-break sitting on the harbour wall.
Continuing our trek along the Cleveland Way, we made our way along Cowbar Lane towards Boulby. After several ascents and descents, we arrived at Skinningrove. At this point we had just caught up with the B-Group. We stopped here for a short tea-stop.
After leaving Skinningrove, the final section of the walk took us along some of the high cliffs of the north-east coastline - Cattersty Cliff and Hunt Cliff. Between these we passed by Warsett Hill (on our left). We arrived at Saltburn-by-the-Sea at about 15:30 - just as it started to rain!
A selection of 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.
During the early part of March, two groups of A-walkers made their way to the Canary Islands for walking expeditions. One group went to Tenerife while the other went further west to La Palma. Although there was snow on the top of Mount Teide (Pico del Teide) in Tenerife, there was none on the high ground in La Palma - Roque de los Mouchachos and Pico Bejenado.
It was certainly a lovely experience to be walking in shorts and tee-shirt. Equally nice was the 'all-day' sunshine and blue skies that we were exposed to during our walks. Even the sea (Atlantic Ocean) was warm enough to go in for a swim! As for the scenery, this was also superb and offered a sharp contrast to what we have available in the UK.
The group in La Palma spent quite some time exploring the central national park (Parque Nacional de la Caldera de Taburiente) and walking south (from El Pilar) along the famous 'volcano route' (Ruta de los Vulcanes). We had to pay to visit the San Antonio volcano crater (Volcan de San Antonio) - but the views we got of the southern tip of the island were well worth the admission fee.
We had hoped to do some walks in the Barranco de Las Angustias area. Unfortunately, the two routes that we had planned to take were closed due to the possibility of land-slides - arising from the hurricane that hit the island a week prior to our visit.
A selection of some of the photos that we took during the La Palma expedition can be seen by clicking on the pink button below:
Credits: Many thanks to Jane Thompson and Phil Barker for taking the photographs.
On Thursday, 28th March, Stockton Rambling Club have a
mid-week walk in the Scaling area of the North York Moors. Please meet at 10.30 am at the east car park at Scaling Dam
{NZ 756 129} - see the following map.
Crown Copyright (2013). All rights reserved. Licence No.
100046831.
Produced using Anquet Maps.
The walk will not be longer than 9 miles (B-pace).
For further details ring 01642-648682.
On Sunday, 24th March, the Stockton Rambling Club will have three walks in the Hamsterley area of County Durham. All walks will finish in Medomsley {NZ 120 543} - see the following map.
Crown Copyright (2013). All rights reserved. Licence No. 100046831.
Produced using Anquet Maps.
The A-walk will start at Ebchester {NZ 102 555} and will take in Woodhead, High Mickley and Penny Hill.
The B-walk will commence at Medomsley and will follow a circular route that visits Bradley's Wood, Lintzford and Ebchester.
The C-walk will set off from Ebchester
{NZ 102 555} and will pass through Blackhall Mill, Chopwell Wood and Lintzford.
This is a Route 3 coach pick-up (Acklam: 9.00 am, Stockton: 9.15 am and Billingham: 9.30 am).
On Wednesday, 20th March, Stockton Rambling Club has a special event organised. This will take the form of a meal at Middlesbrough College. Please meet at 6.00 pm for a 6.30 start.
The cost of this event will be £13.50 and must be booked in advance.
For further details on this event, and bookings, please contact Bill
McTimony
on 01740-644347.
On Wednesday, 20th March, Stockton Rambling Club have a
mid-week walk in the Crathorne area of North Yorkshire. Please meet at 10.30 am at the church - see the following map.
The walk will not be longer than 5 miles (D-pace).
For further details ring 01642-805781.
On Sunday, 17th March, the Stockton Rambling Club will have three walks in the North-Eastern area of the North York Moors region. All walks will finish in Saltburn {NZ 665 211} - see the following map.
Crown Copyright (2013). All rights reserved. Licence No.
100046831.
Produced using Anquet Maps.
The A-walk will start at Mickleby Hole {NZ 807 133} and will take in Barnaby Tofts, Hob Holes and a section of the Cleveland Way.
The B-walk will commence at Calais House {NZ 765 129} and will visit Stang Howe, Low Borrowby, Cowbar and a section of the Cleveland Way.
The C-walk will set off from Freebrough
{NZ 685 131} and will pass through Moorsholm, Throstle Nest, Skinningrove and a section of the Cleveland Way.
This is a Route 1 coach pick-up (Billingham: 9.00 am,
Stockton: 9.15 am and Acklam: 9.30 am).
Our three walks on Sunday, 3rd March, each took place in the Gayles area of North Yorkshire. Both the A-walk and the B-walk started at Barningham while the C-walk set off from Newsham. All of the walks finished in Richmond
The A-walk was led by Peter Cull - pictured below. There were fourteen walkers in the group and the distance covered was 15.6 miles.
Departing from our drop-off location in the centre of Barningham, we followed a south-westerly bearing in order to reach the trig point at How Tallon. A little further west (at about 11:29 am) we stopped at the footpath junction {NZ 052 071} for a short coffee break - a somewhat 'unusual' event on A-Walks!
From the coffee-stop location, we moved off in a south-easterly direction across High Moor and made our way to the minor road at {NZ 069 068}. We now followed this road in a southerly direction over Holgate Moor to reach How Gate. At this point, we left the road and made our way across moorland terrain to reach Rake Gate - where we stopped for lunch.
After a pleasant lunch sitting on the bridge across Rake Beck, we walked in a
south-easterly direction along Cordilleras Lane to find a footpath on our right at {NZ 098 033}. Following this path, we navigated a route to Orgate Farm, Clints and the picturesque village of Marske.
Leaving the village on a north-easterly bearing, we walked along the road and then crossed some muddy fields in order to reach Applegarth Scar {NZ 120 014}. We stopped here for a short tea-stop.
After our brief break, we set off in an easterly direction and made our way to West Applegarth, East Applegarth and High Leases. From here, we followed a minor road that took us into Richmond where our coach was waiting to take us home.
A selection of 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.
On Thursday, 14th March, Stockton Rambling Club have a
mid-week walk in the Hart area of Hartlepool. Please meet at 10.30 am at the car park near the Saxon Church in Hart Village {NZ 470 350} - see the following map.
The walk will not be longer than 9 miles (B-pace).
For further details ring 01642-805781.
On Sunday, 10th March, the Stockton Rambling Club will have three walks in the Bilsdale area of the North York Moors. All walks will start at Clay Bank {NZ 572 034} and finish in Chop Gate {SE 558 993} - see the following map.
Crown Copyright (2013). All rights reserved. Licence No. 100046831.
Produced using Anquet Maps.
The A-walk will take in Spout House, Shaw Ridge and Stump Cross.
The B-walk will visit Rudland Rigg, Bransdale Mill and Stump Cross.
The C-walk will pass through Three Howes, Barker's Ridge and Chop Gate.
This is a Route 1 coach pick-up (Billingham: 9.00 am, Stockton: 9.15 am and Acklam: 9.30 am).
