Wainwright's Coast to Coast - Day 13

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Thursday 24 September, 2015

Ingleby Cross to Great Broughton - 18 kms
                                                          7 hours walking
                                                          20 mins car ride

It was a tad chilly, with mostly blue skies, as we set off around 9 o'clock, having enjoyed a wholesome, filling breakfast. Bev's dog was looking very despondent as we left. Everyone had obeyed the sign around his neck.

It was to be a day of ups and downs, of heather, vast rural views and our first sighting of the North Sea. We dressed warmly, but immediately we exited the grounds of Park House, the climbing began and soon the layers were removed.

A small, but very useful C2C sign put us on trail. Thankfully, the signs were much more prevalent today.

Not long after getting into our rhythm, we heard footsteps approaching from behind. When we turned round, it wasn't the Brisgang as expected, but 2 hikers we hadn't met previously. It's a small world however, and all but Joc, knew the sister in law of this Brisbane couple.

Halfway up the climb, we turned left onto the narrow path of the Cleveland Way.

At one point we were able to look back across the Vale of Mowbray. As always, amazed at seeing how far we have walked.

We could see the village of Ingleby Cross beneath us.

          The climbing continued.

              Arncliffe Wood

Finally, the trail reached hilltop fields and we passed through a gate to Scarth Wood Moor.

It was only a short hike on level trail, surrounded by heather,  before we had to commense our first descent of the day.

Glorious rural vistas to the north east, opened up before us and stayed with us on and off all day.

The views were a delight to the eyes.

On the horizon was industrial Middlesborough and our first glimpse of a distant North Sea.

The level of descent constantly changed. The further down we went, the steeper it became.

Once down, the trail wound its way along the base of the moor, passed farms and through Scugdale and its woodlands. Then the climbing began again. The 'x' is roughly where our descent began from.

Scugdale

               Climbing to Live Moor

                   And still going up.

                      A last windy scramble.

On reaching the crest here, we could see just where our 'down then up' would take us through the heather,

On cresting this ridge, the trail wound its way along the edge of Carlton Moor, bordered by a tiring, but non the less, beautiful heather.

                    Views west.

As we neared the Carlton Trig point, the wind howled up over the ridge, forcing us to continue on without a rest. The town below is Great Broughton, where we spent the night.

The views continued, as we steeply descended to Raisdale Road, where we found nimble Gail, patiently waiting for us.

At this point we could see yet another ascent and were quite disheartened that it would have to be climbed before we reached The Lord Stone coffee shop. Someone must have had the map upside down as, as soon as we had passed through this grove of trees, the cafe was before us.

Lord Stone's Cafe between Carlton Bank & Busby Moor.

This is the famous subterranean cafe which is cut into the moorland rock at the top of Carlton Bank. 

Just behind the cafe lie the remains of the original Three Lords Stone which, centuries ago,  marked the estate boundaries of 3 local Lords. 

It is also the site of some Bronze Age burial mounds, or tumuli, from where many flint arrowheads dating back over 5,000 years were discovered.

Refreshed, we were able to face yet another climb.

At the top we realised, that our roller coaster day, was not about to end.

                Looking ahead.

Looking back to our last descent and our path across Cringle Moor.  

                                

Complaining about the next ascent, but it is a beautiful day.

                                               

There had been talk about the Wainstones throughout the day. Finally they were before us. Using my zoom lens they looked quite ominous, even if the approach was less so.

                               

                               

                                

The climb here brought us back onto the flat moorland of Hasty Bank. Time to reflect, contemplate a rainbow, and breathe.

                                

Our final scramble down White's Hill, brought us to the B1257 and the Clay Bank Top car park. Here we were met by a staff member of The Wainstones Hotel, in Great Broughton - a four kilometre journey.

We would be returned to this carpark in the morning. 

                                             

                                

We were surprised that we were challenged by this roller coaster of a day. We didn't think we would be dancing up and down the hills, but they were a tad more exhausting than expected. One
thought we held tight though, was that our recovery time at the top of each moor, was far shorter than previously.

Another superb day on the Coast to Coast. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I have. I would love to read your comment.