The Cleveland Way - 2009

[foxy mars]

After doing the Coast to Coast walk with much success, I'm planning my next walk - The Cleveland Way. This is a 110 mile walk and has a lovely contrast of both moorland & coast, although it's not as hard and long like the Coast to Coast, it can be done easily in a week.

Being lucky enough to have the Cleveland Way not too far from where I live, getting to Helmsley is somewhat a chew to get to via York. So I could start maybe at Osmotherley, Kildale or better still Saltburn by the Sea and make the Cleveland Way into a 150 mile circular walk, if I include the Tabular Hills link, a 40 mile walk from Scarborough to Helmsley.

Anyway, I will be back-packing the walk and hopefully have a blister-free walk. I will be walking in trainer's, as the walk is a suitable terrain for these.

Also the Cleveland Way was 40 years old last month in May and the origins of the walk go back to 1913, when Alan Falconer's father would go off on his trek's from Osmotherley to Helmsley and over to Whitby and so on along the north parts of the Cleveland Hills.

It was however when the Youth Hostel Assocation was founded in 1930, when more and more people were started to walk and use the hostels. the idea of a long distance walk along the moors and coast path was born, with the youth hostels being opened in Nether Silton (1953-58), Osmotherley (1934-40) Stokesley (1933-36) Saltburn by the Sea (1938-93) Robin Hood's Bay (1939-47) Ravenscar (1935-38) Cloughton ((1931-34) and Filey (1946-58). But sadly there are all now closed, with only Osmotherley re-opening in 1981 and popular now with the Coast to Coast walker's.

It is interesting to know that the Cleveland Way is the 2nd long distance walk in the National Trail league, the offical was opening was at the Helmsley Youth Hostel in May 1969. I have however walked the Cleveland Way in 1986 & 1989.

Although it is more quite now to it's big bother "The Pennine Way" and the un-offical "Coast to Coast Walk", It still however a lovely and interesting to do and am looking forward to walking it in early September.

[foxy mars]

having not decided whether to do the Coast to Coast bike ride(mtb 1 way) or do the double coast to coast bike ride, which was doing my head in a bit.

Anyway, round me Mum's this morning, very pleased with the digital camera. I said about the bike ride, son she say's. What about the 40th birthday badge you got, meaning that I should walk the CW and earn to wear the badge. Ok, I said, I will do the Cleveland Way c/w the Tabular Hill Walk. I shall earn the right to wear that badge with pride and not feel guilty about it, I think Mum felt proud. I think she likes me to be walking and not cycling, she thinks roads are too dangerous to cycle on.

So, Cleveland Way is back on track. Mmm Fish and Chips in Helmsley, Osmotherley, Saltburn by the Sea, Staithes, Whitby, Robin Hood's Bay and Scarborough.

[foxy mars]

This one is in the bin. lack of appeal

[foxy mars]

Well, it's been a fortnight of what to do for my September hols. It was a toss between the double bike coast to coast, a cycle around the Yorkshire Dales, Wolds and Coast or the Cleveland Way.

Having done the Cleveland Way in 1986 and 1989, one I enjoyed then. But I would of loved to of done the double coast to coast bike ride, but guessing that was done walking back in May. So I've decided to do the Cleveland Way instead, the downside is, I've not done much in the way of walking in the last 3 months nor cycling and I'm going to the Lakes to do Striding Edge.

But anyway, I'm doing the Cleveland Way like it or not. So watch this space.

[Pete Collins]

Good luck foxy mars, I look forward to reading your report when you have done the Cleveland Way. It's a route I'd like to walk sometime in the future.

[foxy mars]

Thanks Pete, I will love to do a report on the Cleveland Way, with photos too.

I will start at Saltburn by the Sea, walk to Scarborough, miss out Filey Get the bus to Helmsley and walk again back to Saltburn by the Sea.

I hoping for some Sun, Sand, Fish and Chips and Beer. I will be popping into Winkin' Willies Fishy in Scarborough, reckon it's good.

Again, I'm camping and using the Terra Nova Laser Comp tent and my Karrimor Challenger 65 ruck-sac I got from the local Car-Boot Sale for a £1.

[foxy mars]

Well, the big day is tommorrow. I will be setting from Saltburn by the Sea to Hinderwell for 1st night's camp, then to Robin Hood's Bay and do a bit of the Coast to Coast Walk to Grosmont. I'm going to get the steam train to Pickering and do a video on the digital camera and once I arrive in Pickering, get the bus to Helmsley and do the Cleveland Way to Kildale.

The weather is pretty unsettled for next week, but will still do the walk.

Anyway, see you lot in a week's time.

Cheerio.

Foxy

[foxy mars]

Just to say, that I've got the PC back and it's got a new lease of life. Anyway, back to normal. I did'nt do the Cleveland Way, due to lack of interest, so instead did a third of the Coast to Coast from Richmond to Robin Hood's Bay and I got my Coast to Coast t-shirt at long last and using the same camp sites as before. But I don't want to bore you again, but the weather was great, bit too hot. I did get to do Striding Edge and Helvellyn last Sunday and again the weather was great, plenty of sunshine, warm and the views were 360 degrees fab. One of the best days I've seen.

[Pete Collins]

Welcome back foxy mars! Glad you had a good time anyway.

[foxy mars]

Thanks Pete, I did enjoy the 5 days on the last third section of the Coast to Coast, having no regrets about not doing Cleveland Way. Anyway the Lakes was nice end to my holiday.

This is me, on top of Hellvellyn @ 3118'