Day 13 -Glaisdale to Robin Hoods Bay. GPS 206 miles

 The Last Days Walking

It has taken a long time coming but the final day has arrived. Today, walking from Glaisdale to Robin Hoods Bay we finally reach the North Sea and the end of our walk but it was not a stroll. This was still a serious walk and we had close on twenty miles before we could say we had finished the whole of our first long distance walk. Leaving Beggars Bridge a beatutiful bridge with the vegetation growing on it built in 1619 specifically for pack horses, and which is one of a number that cross the Esk River, The route starts with a long climb up through some woods. The first village we come to was Egton Bridge.

On Egton Bridge these sheep dogs were waiting for their owner.. It was just past here that Andy and Janine plus Daphane caught up with us so we walked together for the rest of the day.

The next village (the walk today would pass through a few of them) was Grosmont. Again a small village. Grosmont is pronounced with a silent 's' and 't' and it is the terminus of the North York Moors railway, which operates steam locomoties. It was this train track that was used in the 'Harry Potter' films.

We were lucky to arrive just in time to see this train pull into the station. From here there is one hell of a long steep hill you have to climb, via the road out of the village.

At the top we have a nice view back of where we had walked from

 We then walk in open moor land, Sleights Moor, which was where we got our first glimpses of Whitby Abbey. Coming of the moorland we entered Little Beck Wood where a sign proclaimed we may see roe deer or foxes, this made Daphne smile as she has them in her garden at home in Texas, while the walk was tranquil we saw little bar fellow walkers. We then reached the Hermitage which is a large hollowed out piece of sandstone It was inscribed with the initials G.C 1790. 

 

Pressing on we came to Falling Foss then we were suddenly back in civilisation near a pretty waterfall complete with busy tea shop and many day trippers.

We took the chance here to refuel with a tasty cream tea.

The empty moorland afterwards was far more inviting and welcoming, back amongst our beloved isolation once more. But it was a sharp reminder that we  would soon be back in the normal world this walk would not last forever. Soon we passed through a caravan site (a stop for ice cream, for Daphne, was the most important thing about this).For most of the afternoon Whitby Abbey could be seen on the horizon.

You would assume it was the place that the coast to coast would finish. But Wainwright doesn't do things the easy way and we were soon heading south , re-joining the Cleveland way, for the last few miles along the coastal path to Robin Hoods Bay. Our destination remained hidden until right near the end when the bay itself appeared.

 

 We made our way through Robin Hoods Bay to the sea and  to our joy and surprise my sister Deb and partner Col were there to meet us. This was a big but lovely surprise. Here it got very emotional as we realised the end of our journey had arrived and in memory of Barbara, Jane's sister, her Mother and Father we had raised over £5,000 for Cancer research UK. we are not yet sure of the final total but it is well above this. We are totally amazed at the support you have all given us and thank you for your most generous donations, from those at home and the fantastic people we have met along our travels. All that remained was for us to dip our boots in the North Sea.

And throw away our pebbles that we had duly carried with us all the way from St.Bees.

 

Photographs were taken outside the plaque of the Bay Hotel.

We made our way inside to sign the completers book at the bar and celebrate our completion with a pint.

It was great to see a few faces at the pub who we had met over the two weeks and we were really pleased to see Dave and Sandra who had been so generous with their donation, we met them on the first day and took their picture at St.Bees but only saw them a couple of times and so was lovely to take their picture again at Robin Hoods Bay dipping their boots.

There was a small feeling of deflation to follow that it was all over but the three of us have thoroughly enjoyed the adventure and while it has been tough at times everyone's support and comments have been fabulous and it has possibly been the best thing we have ever done.

Thank you for all your donations and anyone who has promised money that is still to pay please do so as soon as possible so we can pay the money in full and let everyone know our final total.

 Well now it is time to sleep and rest my weary legs and feet. Thanks to you all and good night.

Day 13 we finish in Robin Hoods Bay. GPS reads 206 miles

 206 miles  over £5,000 pounds raised for Cancer Research UK. 

We Did it!! now too emotional, tired and hungry to blog. This has been the most amazing experiance and shall blog the final day in the morning if not tonight. 

Thanks to Deb and Col for meeting us.

See you all later xxx

Day 12 - Gt Broughton to Glaisdale GPS 187 miles

The Penultimate day. We now have the first of two long twenty mile days to finish our Coast to Coast. It seems a long time since we arrived in St. Bees but now we've broken the back of the journey - we'll get to Robin Hoods Bay if we have to do it on our knees.

On returning to Clay Bank Top we met Andy and Janine, we first had a steep climb up to the top but we knew this was the only really steep climb today. At the top we could see back towards some of yesterdays walk.

Today the weather forcast was good so it was no waterproofs needed. We again are walking the moors we hadn't been walking for much more than half an hour before walking along  wide, drivable, sandy track  and seeing numbered grouse butts.

  These act as hides for those with the guns when shooting the grouse. We walk along a disused railway for a lot of miles and navigation is easy, before arriving at the Lion Inn on Blackey Ridge sat isolated in the hills, it originally served the workers of the iron mines but now is a mecca for coast to coast walkers.

We met a group of day trippers here who all put in our donation tin.

A welcome pint was consumed here after a long hot trek. 

There are a lot of standing stones on this day in fact on all the days you walk through the North York Moors. They vary in size and function. Some are boundry markers , some indicate paths or routes and others are just there. After walking across more moorland we arrive at a large stone with a smaller one perched on top. The smaller one is circular and has a rough primative face carved into it. The top is painted white but how long that's been so I don't know. This stone is 'Fat Betty'

'Tradition' - where do people get these 'traditions'? - states that passers by should take some of the food that had been left there and leave something different in it's place.

From here it is a long trek across moors.

We approached Great Fryup Dale and as we joined the path we could see the North Sea.

      The North Sea our aim for the last 12 Days

It was hard to believe we were approaching the end of our challenge. Getting to the village it is a strange arrangement. Most of the village apart from the pub and the raiway station is built high up the valley. Then you seem to leave the village along the road and it  is a good 10- 15 minutes before you come to a few more houses, then the pub. then the station and on to Beggers Bridge.  Where our B&B was.

Today has been a tough walk with the sun beating down and long trails across open moors, but we walked with Andy and Jannine and this made the long sections much more acceptable.

Kirsty and Jane have coped well today and it seems funny we don't know how we will feel tomorrow when we finish. this has been an experiance of a life time and possibly the best thing we have ever done  for so many different things. 

Day 11 Ingleby Cross to Great Broughton via the Wainstones. GPS 168 miles

What a great days walking. For most the day it was dry and warm with sunny spells, but there were a few showers so the coats were going on and off all day. The first task for the day was, as we have come accustomed to over the past 10 days, to climb the steep but steady track through the woods overlooking Ingleby.

The trail does a few hairpin bends and passes a few streams. With Kirsty's knee still painful she tried to avoid downward steps as often as possible.

As you climb out of the woods the trail meets the Cleveland way and we follow this the entire way to Clay Bank top making navigation very easy and an absolute pleasure to walk. We soon joined the ridge of the hill and a world of mighty panoramic views across a huge distance

We could see for miles and miles, from the fells of the Yorkshire Dales, through to the industrial conurbation of Middlesborough. The Cleveland Way is easy under foot mainly paved, but a massive amount of effort is required for this section.This is the finest section since the Lakes and it was good to get in the hills again after yesterdays flat trudge across the vale. There are basically three moors on this stretch to Urra and that means climbing up, quite steeply, and going down, equally steeply many, many times. A real cardio workout. The first 'down'  arrived at at place known as Lord Stones where a cafe sits buried in the hillside.

Here we stopped for lunch and bumped into Andy and Janine who where to walk with us for the rest of the day, it is a pleasure to walk with A&J and they seem to be enjoying the walk as much as us.

As we continued to walk the views kept amazing us and we could often see the next down and up.

After this valley we got to the top and we could see the rocky crag called the Wain Stones.

This was our final climb for the day. From a distance this looks like a ruin but as you approach nearer it becomes obvious it is just an outcrop.

The views from the Wainstones were wonderful

            The view South

And sunshine and showers to the North. 

We now travel on a flat landscape to Clay Bank top an awkward spot , a few mies from any villages and we now have to drop down to the road and travel down the road for two and a half miles to Gt. Broughton for our nights accommodation. 

Todays walk has been one of, many hard climbs and declines but a fanastic, most enjoyable walk with breathtaking views of hill sides covered in purple heather and green ferns.

Today has put us in great spirits for the last two long days.

The route we have taken across England so far has been a challenge and we will be doing more than 200 miles but the generousity to our charity Cancer Research has been overwhelming and again today we had a Donation while walking, from the American Daphne who is walking with Ellen, who has already donated. These pair are also good company but are finding the walk very much harder than they expected.

We are not quite sure of the exact amount raised now as we have lost count of what is in the donation can from this walk, but we do know we will have raised over £5,000 WOW! incredible THANK YOU ALL for your support.

Jane and Kirsty both felt that there injuries were slightly improving today.

So with a good rest tonight lets hope tomorrows 20 miles is not too uncomfortable.

Day - 10 St Giles - Ingleby GPS 155 miles

This morning we left St.Giles farm where Jane and Simon, the hosts donated to our charity, also Dee and Kathryn a couple who we had bumped into a few times donated, soon we visited the church at Bolton on Swale where there is a monument to Henry Jenkins, a local man who lived an unremarkable life except for its length, he claimed he was 169 when he died,

Inside the church is a beautful plaque in memory of Henry Jenkins

This morning was probably the worst section of the coast to coast walk , with long stretches of road walking and many paths through fields of barley and wheat. Kirsty keeps our spirits high and  amuses us with her constant singing of tunes where she changes the words to connect with the current scenery or situation.

As we headed into Danby Wiske we all felt hungry so stopped at the pub and had a drink on the green while drinking a beer from the white swan.

The rest of the afternoon was more and more farms. More fields of wheat

Fields of barley.

and harvested fields

It was broken up by the odd interesting spot, like this tree house.

Field walking is fine but after a whie it gets a bit tedious and with little options to rest and nowhere to stop for refreshment you can understand why this section of the coast to coast is considered the worst day. 

But we still seem to enjoy it.

To cap it off just before Ingleby we came to what must be the most dangerous part of the whole walk- the A19. Thousands of people a year are now attempting to do the whole coast to coast, and yet there's been no effort whatsoever to make the crossing of the busy main road safer and less of a gamble on your life. The road is a dual carriageway but the traffic moves at the same speed as on a motorway, with the consequent total lack of regard of anyone trying to cross by foot. So doing our best to emulate Usain Bolt we tried to judge the traffic speed and legged it which is not easy when your legs feel like lead from the days walk. Kirsty looked more like Jake the peg, with her bad leg, than Usain bolt, but we made it.

We booked into our B&B and walked for a further 10 minutes to the Blue Bell for our evening meal.

 Here we had another good night meeting up with the fantastic couple Andy and Janine. We have been crossing paths often with Andy and Janine during the walk and they are a great couple who are fab company. 

One of the fantastic things about this walk is the friendshiips you seem to build with total strangers who now seem like an extended family.

Jane and Kirsty have again battled the pain barriers and managed to keep very positive, with plenty of pain killers and the advice given on the blog they will soldier on.

Well it has been a long day and is getting late so I must get to bed.

Thank you for all your comments and keep them coming.  

Day 9 Reeth- St.Giles via Richmond. GPS 135 miles

Sorry but no WiFi here at the farm so less pictures I'm afraid.

Leaving Reeth we were beginning to leave the hills behind but Swaledale is beautiful.

We passed by Marrick Priory, an old home of Benedictine nuns until Henry VIII got his claws into it and closed it down. Our route today was slightly easier even with a steep ascent up the "Nun's Stairs" stone slabs placed in a wood to allow the nuns to get to the hamlet of Marrick.

     The "Nun's Stairs", 

Wainwright totalled the steps as 375 , we have no reason to doubt him and we weren't going to count them. Today the weather has been perfect for walking with sun most the time so we stopped for a cool down near Marske a little further on from Marrick.

Marrick is very quiet and deserted. Passing by a converted chaple and a converted church, it was hard not to wonder about it's former religious history. After all these day of walking you would think going up hill would become easier but even the relatively gentle climb up to Applegarth Scar seemed tough but at least rewarded us with a fine view of the valley for our efforts.

At a stile just before Applegarth Scar.

After leaving a forest we got a fine view overlooking the town of Richmond, by far the largest settlement on the coast 2 coast, with it's dramatically positioned castle sitting above the banks of the River Swale with terracotta and slate roofs backed by the distant Cleveland Hills. The foot of which is tomorrows destination.

As we reacquaint ourselves with urban etiquette we see this welcoming sign

We walked through the marketplace taking the opportunity to replemish a few supplies.

     A last look back at Richmond!

Many C2C walkers stop at Richmond and many take a rest day. We on the other hand have got used to the quiet and didn't want to mingel with the crowds. So we left the bustling roads and paths which teemed with people and carried on for 3 miles to St Giles farm, where we had a lovely greeting from Jane and Simon, the farms owners. This also reduces the long flat walk that awaits us tommorrow to just 21 miles.

Injury Update ; Jane's knee seems fine now but is suffering from a painfull shin, while Kirsty's knee is a more serious threat, she is suffering and we stopped at Boots in Richmond to get some support, freeze spray and Voltarol on the reccommendation of Nurse Debs. I seem to be getting away with any problems to date. I am very proud how Kirsty and Jane have soldiered on and it is amazing how positive Kirsty remains while she can hardly walk down hill, she made light of using two sticks but remarking " forget blisters on the feet I am going to need compeeds on my hands!"

We had another donation from an Australian couple Wendy and Kevin this morning. The people we have met while walking have been wonderful and we thank eveyone for their donations.

Thank you for everyone's comments and please keep them coming.

    

Day 8 Keld to Reeth GPS 118 miles

We had a good night last night with some great company, we have bumped into Steve, Joe and Laurie a few times as they are coast 2 coasting a similar schedule to us and last night we were the last to leave the bar, also talked with a great couple, Bill and Denise who have made a donation to our chariity.    

Today we checked the weather forecast and it didn't look good. We started in the rain and kitted out in full wet gear. 

This walk so far has been all highs but first thing today was a bit of a low. Kirsty had jarred her knee on a step (not on the walk but just in the village-typical!) and was quite upset as she was really struggling down any type of hill. But Kirsty is a warrior and will soldier on regardless, we might walk slower but we will get there. Fortunately we have a fairly easy terrain today.

The beggining of the walk we saw many waterfalls.

And as we climb slightly we cast our eyes on the valleys with the masses of dry stone walls and neat hay barns.

We found an abandoned tractor that must have been there a hundred years.

    The closest I have been to transport for 8 days.

Soon the weather improved and we managed to stay dry for the rest of the day and finished in sun, This walk was at a leisurely pace and due to the shorter nature of this leg we decided to take a detour off the path to the village of Muker, this village is a joy to see. It is a very pleasant little place and one of James Herriot's favourites.

 Muker Church

Our route now follows the river and passes through some lovely villages many still having the bunting left up from the Tour de France, as it passed through a few weeks ago.

             Ivelet display

We ate lunch by the river 

Soon we were climbing again and we had great views of Swaledale from open moorland.

 

And as we reach the track that took us towards the hamlets of Blades, Kearton and Healaugh we still had great views and now the sun was out. 

We then followed the road for a short while passing this bad boy in a field.

      So glad we didn't have to walk through his field.

 The final section of todays walk, along the river Swale on to Reeth, led us past the new swingbridge rebuild after the floods of 2000.

We arrived in Reeth, an archetypal Yorkshire dales village flanked to the North and South by valleys and ringed by dry-stone walls. At it's heart lies a village green surrounded on all sides by gift shops, pubs and tea rooms. Where tonights meal was at the Black Bull and we bumped in to Joe, Steve and Laurie again and also a great couple Andy and Janine who again we have talked to several times, they are always smiling as long as Andy doesn't miss his tea break.

A great days walk and hoping the body parts hold out tommorrow.

So proud of Jane and Kirsty battling sore knees and feet all for Cancer research so Please keep the comments and donations coming it is most apreciated.