Falling Foss ~ Medium Walk

Distance Covered: 2.5 miles   Time to complete walk: 1h 30m

Safety Tips: Take a walking stick - an essential in muddy weather

One of my favourite walks, this woodland walk takes you to the spectacular Falling Foss waterfall, and the tea gardens above the waterfall - a hidden gem. Along the way you will come across The Hermitage a sandstone refuge but the walk is worth doing just for experiencing the Falling Foss waterfall for the first time.

Getting There

You need to follow the A171 road to Whitby and go past Whitby and look for the B146 turning which is a right turn and then when on this road take a very sharp left to be on the May Beck Farm Road- follow this road down until you reach a car park which is the starting point for the walk.

The Walk

From the car park cross the bridge and then turn downstream  along a signed footpath to Falling Foss. The path rises and passes through a gate into thicker woodland and then crosses a side stream. At a fork in the path bear left returning to May Beck at a ford. Carry on a little further to a stone bridge.

Continue North and cross over the wooden bridge below:

 

 

                                     Falling Foss Walk route
You will pass in front of Midge Hall which is also the home of the Falling Foss tea rooms - definitely stop in the summer when its open for a pot of tea and sandwiches with the waterfall as its backdrop.

                       Falling Foss waterfall
Forking left beyond Midge Hall you will find a grand view of the Falling Foss waterfall. Stop for as long as you like before sticking with the main path above. You will come to a junction on the path and go left where the sign is signed to Littlebeck.

Follow this path which passes through another junction until you come to The Hermitage.

                        
                              The Hermitage

Have a look inside the building which is made of sandstone and sit on the bench inside - handy if it starts to rain to take shelter. Perched above The Hermitage are a couple of  "chairs"- sit in one and make a wish in the other to make it come true according to local folklore. The initials above The Hermitage belong to George Chubb who was a schoolteacher in the nearby village of Littlebeck.

Turn around as if to retrace your steps but instead immediately bear right. on the path to descend to the stream below. Cross the bridge over May Beck but ignore a second bridge later on and instead follow a path climbing from the valley. At it reaches its crest it swings right falling to cross a side brook. The path then winds on to meet a gravel track.

You can revisit Falling Foss from here (its worth another look) otherwise the way back to the car park is to the right. Abandon the path almost immediately  in favour of a path on the left that meanders through the wood. Ignore two stiles you come across and on the third stile you encounter which is beside a bridle gate, go through this gate and descend the path back to the car park.


Falling Foss

After heavy rainfall, Falling Foss is a spectacle. Its over 50 foot high. The nearby cottage Midge Hall  was built by Sir James Wilson for his gamekeeper, but at the beginning of the 20th century was opened by Mrs Robinson as a tea room. After years of dereliction and a brief spell as a museum, it has been restored and once again offers tasty home cooked hospitality to walkers who are passing through.

Middleham Castle -Medium Walk

Distance Covered: 7 miles   Time to complete walk: 2h 30m

Safety Tips!  Take care when returning back to Middleham on the road, stick to the grass verge!

Recently featured in the Tour De France Yorkshire leg- this walk starting at Middleham Castle which was Richard III's favourite castle is a medium walk and you can take your time exploring the castle or the charming village of Middleham

Getting there

From Middlesbrough/Stockton follow the A19 southwards until you reach Thirsk, then take the A61 towards Ripon.  Before you reach Ripon turn right onto the A1608 and keep on the A1608 until you reach Middleham. Parking is limited so if struggling to park, go down a residential street and you will find a parking spot.

                                            Middleham Castle


The Walk

 

Middleham Castle Walk route

Start the walk to the left of the castle tea rooms and keep left of the castle along a walled track to a gate. Either explore the castle now or after your walk. Take some great pictures of course!

 

 

Bear left across the big field following the sign for the stepping stones. You should come across this lonely tree in the field you are walking in.

 

 

 

Cross two more fields over waymarked stiles. After the third stile follow the field edge above a steep bank. At a crossing wall turn right down to the River Cover by the stepping stones.

 

 

Have a walk on the stepping stones and then turn back to the rivers edge and turn right to continue your walk. The path takes you through the wood and a field. A gate leads to some steps and an elevated section. You will then end up back on the river bank and cross a stile into a field. After another stile turn immediately right. Climb steeply to a marker post.

Turn left and follow the edge of the wood. At the end of the field go left through the trees then left on a descending path. Cross a stile and turn left to Hullo Bridge.

 

 

Hullo Bridge

 

 

 

Cross the bridge and turn right on a permissive path crossing three stiles. At a crossing wire fence turn left. Cross another stile. Where the fence bends right, go ahead up a steep bank to reach a gate onto a lane. Turn right and descend to Coverham bridge. Cross the bridge and turn right onto a track.

 

Before iron gates, turn left through a small gate climbing beside a waterfall into the churchyard.

 

 

Turn right at the church onto the main road and walk back to Middleham for a pint in the local pub!

 

A history of Middleham Castle

 

Middleham Castle in Wensleydale, in the county of North Yorkshire, England, was built by RobertFitzrandolph, 3rd Lord of Middleham and Spennithorne, commencing in 1190. It was built near the site of an earlier motte and bailey castle. In 1270 it came into the hands of the Neville family, the most notable member of which was Richard Neville, 16th Earl of Warwick, known to history as the "Kingmaker", a leading figure in the Wars of the Roses. Following the death of Richard, Duke of York, at Wakefield in December 1460, his younger sons, George, Duke of Clarence, and Richard, Duke of Gloucester, came into Warwick's care, and both lived at Middleham with Warwick's own family. Their brother King Edward IV was imprisoned at Middleham for a short time, having been captured by Warwick in 1469. Following Warwick's death at Barnet in 1471 and Edward's restoration to the throne, his brother Richard married Anne Neville, Warwick's younger daughter, and made Middleham his main home. Their son Edward was also born at Middleham and later also died there.
Richard ascended to the throne as King Richard III, but spent little or no time at Middleham in his two-year reign. After Richard's death at Bosworth in 1485 the castle remained in royal hands until the reign of James I, when it was sold. It fell into disuse and disrepair during the 17th century. It was garrisoned during the Civil War, but saw no action. The ruins are now in the care of English Heritage.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Robin Hoods Bay - Medium walk

 

Distance Covered: 4.75 miles   Time to complete walk: 2h 15m

Safety Tips:  Caution required as cliff edge walking included on the first half of the walk. Cycle track used for return part of the walk- keep an ear and eye out for cyclists.

This is a medium walk around the picturesque coastal village of Robin Hoods Bay due to steep walking on the cliff edges which result in stunning views - definitely take your camera but don't get too close to the edge!

Getting there

From Middlesbrough you need to go up Ormesby Bank and turn left at the roundabout leading to Middlesbrough Road. Keep straight ahead at the roundabouts and follow the signs to Whitby on the A171. Go right when you reach Whitby staying on the A171 and then turn left onto the B1647 to head down into Robin Hoods Bay. Park in the car park which is the starting point of the walk.

                                   
The Walk

 

Route of the Robin Hoods Bay Walk

From the car park, instead of following the road down into Robin Hoods Bay turn left and go uphill. Turn right onto a track that leads to a road with a few houses on and turn right onto a track which is part of the Cleveland Way. This will take you to the cliff edge for stunning views. Follow this track which can get steep and slightly precarious for 2.5 miles. Get your camera ready!

 

 

                                          Look behind you for some stunning views of the bay

You will now be heading onto the cliff edge part of the Cleveland Way - these are by far the best spots for amazing views of the cliff edges and the sheer drop below.

 

 

 

 Keeping on the Cleveland Way, you eventually reach a holiday park with caravans. Turn left over the field and cross over to an unused railway track. The track is popular with cyclists so keep vigilant for them, you should hear them coming.

 

  This path will take you back onto the road you started on your journey. Head down to Robin Hoods Bay for an ice cream...

 

 

 

 

A short history of Robin Hoods Bay

 

The origin of the name is uncertain, and it is doubtful if Robin Hood was ever in the vicinity. An English ballad and legend tell a story of Robin Hood encountering French pirates who came to pillage the fisherman's boats and the northeast coast. The pirates surrendered and Robin Hood returned the loot to the poor people in the village that is now called Robin Hood's Bay.

By about 1000 the neighbouring hamlet of Raw and village of Thorpe (Fylingthorpe) in Fylingdales had been settled by Norwegians and Danes. After the Norman Conquest in 1069 much land in the North of England, including Fylingdales, was laid waste. William the Conqueror gave Fylingdales to Tancred the Fleming who later sold it to the Abbot of Whitby. The settlements were about a mile inland at Raw but by about 1500 a settlement had grown up on the coast.

 

 

 

Captain Cooks Monument ~ Easy walk

Map showing Captain Cooks Monument via Great Ayton

Distance Covered: 1.2 miles   Time to complete walk: 1 hour

Safety Tips: None - Very Safe walk

Click for slideshares of walks

This walk is a short walk to the imposing Captain Cooks Monument and although has a steep incline is easy to complete and if you are feeling fit enough, can be include a walk across Easby Moor or Roseberry Topping. You will come across plenty of fellow walkers who are either joining you on the short walk to the monument or setting off on the walk to Roseberry Topping or down to Kildale.

                                      Getting There

Directions: Coming from Middlesbrough go up Ormesby Bank, then turn left ,onto Middlesbrough Road heading to Guisborough.
Turn right at the next roundabout onto the A173 which will take you to Great Ayton.
At the first roundabout you come go left into Great Ayton where the petrol station is.
Keep going until you come to Station Road and turn left into it then left again at the next roundabout - the sign will say Captain Cooks Monument- follow this road until you come to the car park and picnic area below:

 

The Walk 

 

 

Captain Cooks Monument walk route

 

From the picnic area and car park head for the turnstile across from the picnic area below:

 

 

Turn left at the turnstile and head up the path, making sure you look behind you for stunning views of Roseberry Topping:

 

 

 Keep heading up the path which gets quite steep in places and your almost at your destination.

 

Your nearly there now.

 

 

Some interesting facts about Captain Cooks Monument: The monument was erected in 1827 from local sandstone. James Cook moved into the village of Great Ayton when he was 8 years old, his father was a farmer and there is a museum open in the summer in Great Ayton called the Captain Cook Schoolroom Museum. Worth a visit on your drive back into Great Ayton.

 

The inscription on the monument reads "In memory of the celebrated circumnavigator Captain James Cook F.R.S. A man of nautical knowledge inferior to none, in zeal prudence and energy, superior to most. Regardless of danger he opened an intercourse with  the Friendly Isles and other parts of the Southern Hemisphere. He was born at Marton Oct. 27th 1728 and massacred at Owythee Feb 14th 1779 to the inexpressible grief of his countrymen. While the art of navigation shall be cultivated among men, whilst the spirit of enterprise, commerce and philanthropy shall animate the sons of Britain, while it shall be deemed the honour of a Christian nation to spread civilisation and the blessings of the Christian faith among pagan and savage tribes, so long will the name of Captain Cook stand out amongst the most celebrated and most admired benefactors of the human race."

 

After admiring the monument and views head back down to the car park and stop at Great Ayton for a Petches pie or an ice cream! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Essential Walking Equipment

Before you start on a walking adventure you must be equipped for the sometimes harsh terrain. I would recommend the following - any equipment you need is available at Go Outdoors which is a retail outlet that specifically caters for walkers and people who love the outdoors. Here's the link:
http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/

1. A Decent Pair Of Walking Boots - always wear sturdy boots with a good grip as the ground can be muddy after a typical Yorkshire downpour of rain

2. A Walking Stick - This comes in handy  for keeping your balance and ensuring you have an extra bit of help climbing a steep incline

3. Bottle of Water - Walking can really dehydrate you and you will find a large bottle of water an essential particularly on a summer walk.

4. A Backpack - A rucksack to carry to ensure your hands are free

5. Phone/Camera - You really need this to capture the stunning views on your walks or to use the GPS Maps feature if you stray off the beaten path and get lost.

6. A Compass - To get your bearings if lost

7. Packed lunch - Stop somewhere picturesque and have a picnic!

8. Sun Lotion - If walking on open moors you will easily get burned and this will protect you from the suns rays. 

9. Finally remember if you get lost, it's no big deal just retrace your steps! Safety first!

Welcome to Yorkshire Footsteps

Welcome to Yorkshire Footsteps - a blog about walking in North Yorkshire - Ill be giving you a simple guide to easy to medium difficulty walks which will take in the Yorkshire moors and countryside and coastline.

Yorkshire is packed with amazing scenery and villages and a coastline that people come from far and wide to experience. The walks can take up to four hours or an hour to do depending on their difficulty and can range from coastal walks to moor walks and along the way you will come across landmarks and hidden secrets, this maybe an ancient church crypt or an imposing monument.

The walks will keep you fit and healthy - take your phone/camera with you and take snaps along the way!

 

Captain Cooks Monument