Meet Report: 6-8 October 2023, joint with the Gritstone Club.

By Friday night fifteen members, one PM and two Grits had assembled at the cavernous, recently renovated, spotlessly clean and well-equipped Watson Scout Centre in Carlton-in-Cleveland. Despite the size of the centre the sitting room was cosy with the gathering on Friday evening resembling a jumble sale of climbing books, ancient maps, outgrown unused trousers, discounted Club kit bags and a sweatshirt.

Several members had made good use of Friday. A party including Mick, Martyn, John, Jennifer and Peter set off from the Scout Centre, climbed to join the Cleveland Way, followed it eastwards across Cringle Moor, turned south to drop into Raisdale, with its pretty mill, returned over Bilsdale West Moor to Lordstones and then back down the lane to the village. The Smiths met David H and Christine M who had travelled up from York to join them for a walk starting at Old Byland near Rievaulx. The autumn colours were just beginning to show.

Helen B organised a Friday meal at the Blackwell Ox pub in the village which serves delicious large portions of Thai food. The ten participants enjoyed it even if it did seem a bit incongruous eating Thai washed down with a pint of Wainwrights!

Following a 7.30 Saturday breakfast (which prompted comments from the Grits that we have early starts) the majority of the group headed off to Scugdale – mostly to climb. Ten members were in the area at some stage of the day. Some chose to walk  from the centre, others walked back – two parties strayed off route – “blown off course by the wind” as Richard T remarked! There was plenty to entertain everyone with a variety of climbing grades, and most spent the entire day there. Tom,  the youngest meet attendee climbed twenty routes including a solo VS.

Having climbed during the morning Michael accompanied by Helen S did a round from Barker’s Crags to Green Howe and back along the south side of Scugdale dropping into the valley via a steep pathless descent through heather and tall bracken – definitely not recommended. Scout troops were out in force on the tops playing “Wide Games” which involved trying to avoid their leaders – we had wondered why on our approach several of them dived into the heather.

Rory having replenished food supplies in Stokesley also ended up walking to Scugdale with route finding through woodland on the return proving challenging. Alan was delighted to complete his longest walk for some time in the Osmotherley area, including Cod Beck reservoir and the quarries. Harvey, new to mountain biking, cycled to Lordstones on his e-bike and completed various routes to east and west discovering the difficulties of cycling on rough ground.

Mick, Simon, John, Peter and Jennifer walked from the church in Westerdale with a steady ascent up the old packhorse route past Dale Head to Castleton Rigg, turned south to cross the broad ridge between Westerdale and Rosedale to arrive at White Cross (though better known as Fat Betty, a medieval cross thought to date from the 12th century) on Danby High Moor – replete with coins, various biscuits and a packet of Polos to sustain impecunious and hungry travellers. They lunched high above upper Eskdale and then walked down the River Esk back to the village. As both cafes in Castleton had closed they were forced to resort to a pub for refreshments!

It was, as usual, very sociable on Saturday evening and Rory provided a tasty dinner of spaghetti carbonara and salad, apple pie and cream, followed by cheese and biscuits. Michael later showed videos of recent club meets.

It was a slightly later breakfast on Sunday and after tidying up, several members wound their way home. But there was still plenty of activity going on. Michael, and two Helens  in thick drizzly mist walked along the Cleveland Way from Lordstones to Hasty Bank, followed the earthworks south to Medd Crag and worked back crossing two valleys on “paths” – not always evident on the ground and in a couple of other places impassable. Wendy and Steve walked from the scout centre to Lordstones – considered their options over a civilised coffee in the cafe and then also walked to Hasty Bank returning on the north side on a parallel route below the crest.

Mick, Simon, John, Peter and Jennifer set off from Lockton for what Mick claims is one of the best walks in the NYM. They skirted Hagg Wood, then down to Stain Dale and followed a paved track to the Bridestones, a famous series of isolated stacks consisting of silicified portions of sandstone, formed by differential weathering. Fortunately now out of the mist, they enjoyed lunch at the foot of the Pepperpot,  then headed along the Old Wife’s Way to the Hole of Horcum, especially impressive for those seeing it for the first time. Finally they descended the valley into the deciduous woodland near Levisham, accompanied by the song of long-tailed tits, with a final short climb back to the car. 

It was a very enjoyable meet with plenty done.  We did not experience the unseasonably hot  weather enjoyed in the south but at least escaped the torrential rain which caused serious flooding in Scotland. Many thanks to Rory for his organisation and catering.

Attendance:  Mick Borroff, Helen Brewitt, Alan Linford, Harvey Lomas, Rory Newman, Simon Raine, Steve Richards, Wendy Richards, Mark Rothwell (PM), Helen Smith, Michael Smith, Tom Spencer, John Sutcliffe, Jennifer Tennant, Peter Tennant,  Helen Topliss (Grits), Richard Topliss (Grits) Martyn Trasler