Day 13 - Glaisdale to Robin Hood's Bay

Well, our Mr Wainwright certainly had a sense of humour.  After walking approximately 180 miles, the final stretch of 18 miles is anything but direct.  During the course of the day we find ourselves walking due south for some time before heading due north!

Our day starts from the picturesque village of Glaisdale - this is one area we'd certainly like to explore some more.  A long path up through the woods from Beggars Bridge, alongside the river Esk takes us through Egton Bridge to Grosmont.  Here we take advantage of the gallery/coffee shop and stop for a quick drink and to buy some sandwiches for lunch later.  We're stopped in our tracks by the steam trains shunting backwards and forwards through Grosmont station on the North York Moors Railway.  Now a 700ft climb up out of the village to Sleights Moor (part of Eskdaleside Cum Ugglebarnby, apparently...)

Today we have great views and away in the distance we can see Whitby Abbey and the North Sea!  After a few miles of foot-drenching bog-hopping we arrive in Littlebeck, a lovely little hamlet which was once the centre for Alum mining.  We then make our way up through Little Beck wood.  We reach the most southerly part of today's walk and now understand why Wainwright brought us so far out of our way.  'Falling Foss' is a delightful 20m high waterfall, swollen from the recent deluges.  Better than this, though, is the tea garden next door at enterprisingly converted Midge Hall.  This didn't exist in Wainwright's day as it only opened in 2008 so he must have thought the falls alone were worth a visit.  After buying drinks and eating the aforementioned sandwiches we head off for the final stretch.

More boggy ground awaits as we head north east towards Hawsker before finally reaching the clifftops.  We collapse on a grassy bank, contemplating our walk so far and finishing off the contents of the hip flasks, before heading off for the final 3 miles.  A beautiful cliff top walk in the sunshine with Robin Hood's Bay remaining tantalisingly hidden until just before we head slightly inland for the final descent.  We drop our rucksacks at the B&B en route, ensuring that we have our pebbles ready to throw into the North sea.  The tide is in when we arrive in the bay and we step cautiously down the slipway to be greeted by the incoming waves in Wainwright honoured, foot wetting style.  Pebbles cast into the sea, much hugging and back slapping ensues as we realise what we have done!   A few photos then into Wainwrights Bar for a celebratory drink.
Thought for the day: “If you can find a path with no obstacles, it probably doesn’t lead anywhere.”