Day 11

After breakfast Bob the landlord at the Buck Inn near Clay Bank Top gave us a lift to the place where we stopped yesterday. Today’s section of the walk would see us walk 18 miles from Clay Bank Top to the village of Glaisdale.

Charlie Walduck

The initial climb was a bit of a shock straight after breakfast but when we reached the top it was a fairly flat moorland landscape which lay before us, we spent at least an hour on a dismantled railway line, the walking was easy. The heather either side of us was alive with Grouse and some of them would occasionally wander into our path – in fact several had already wandered into the path of cars on the nearby road. Up on the side of the hill amongst the heather they actually blended in quite well and with the early morning weather fairly cold I think a couple of us could have used a famous Grouse of a different kind. After a couple of hours of much of the same the walk would lead us to the Lion Inn where walkers mingled with tourist and those visiting the nearby fictional village of Aidensfield star of ITV’s Heartbeat. At the Lion we had a fine pot of Yorkshire tea. When we left the Lion Inn we set off again and whilst today did not include much climbing, as such, it was fairly tough – or it was for me as I now developed a couple of blisters. As we walked along the road we past a monument called Fat Betty where people are encourage to leave sweets and crisps an ancient tradition to give thanks for a safe journey – there were lots of people leaving treats for Betty – I’m not surprised she is fat! After leaving Betty to shiver in the rain we headed back on track for more moorland walking – eventually reaching the small village of Glaisdale. We waited at a humpback bridge for a lift to our accommodation in a nice farmhouse – were we all enjoyed a nice bath – but not together. Mark and I went and had a nice meal and a couple of drinks with Pam and Brian and toasted a successful trip so far – off to patch up the feet now ready for the final day tomorrow… Robin Hood’s Bay here we come.