KIRKBY STEPHEN TO ROBIN HOOD'S BAY
DAY EIGHT - BLAKEY RIDGE TO EGTON BRIDGE - 11.72 MILES
Today started cold, windy overcast and the moors did not look as welcoming as they can do.
Wainwright devised this route when access to the moors was fought over and some of the road walking we were to do this day could be avoided now as much of the area is Access Land, but we were here to do the route and this meant heading north along the road to Rosedale Head.
For the next hour we were to have Rosedale down on our right which is one of the prettiest in this region.
This large menhir goes by the name of Margery Bradley and is located next to the road. It has been defaced by the initials of the landowner and a bench mark. Marked "BS" on OS maps.
This can be found after forking right on another road just before Young Ralph Cross to work east around the head of Rosedale. Just off the road it is White Cross also known by its more popular nickname "Fat Betty" one of the more unusual of the many moorland crosses. http://thejournalofantiquities.com/2012/08/15/fat-betty-cross-danby-high-moor-north-yorkshire/
Fat Betty from the road, the grass track is part of the Esk Valley Walk which we were to meet up with again later in the day http://www.ldwa.org.uk/ldp/members/show_path.php?path_name=esk+valley+walk
Finally we left the road to take a bridleway that runs around the head of Great Fryup Dale passing Trough House (locked). - Video portrait of the dale, many of the pictures taken from the route https://vimeo.com/84678508
Wood Head at the head of the Dale http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fryup
Any area at the head of the valley known as "The Hills". This was the view from where we had a coffee break.
The bridleway continues across Glaisdale High Moor.
On reaching a road you look down on Glaisdale.
Following the road north east the route follows the ridge between Glaisdale and Fryup Dales.
At Glaisdale Rigg the tarmac road is left for this unsurfaced ancient Whitby Road which follows the north side of Glaisdale across Glaisdale Low Moor.
This is an ancient signpost, around the top is inscribed the destinations of the road and the vertical pillar is slotted into a square hole in the base stone.
Just off the route on a heather strewn hillock is this memorial stone the inscription reads MRS STAINTHORPE NEE GEORGINA RAWDON-SMITH 1914-1967 'SHE LOVED THESE MOORS'
The route descends into Glaisdale where coffee and cakes was taken in a little café and then on down again to the River Esk to join the Esk Valley Walk. This view down through the wild garlic is the first sight of the river.
From Glaisdale to our destination for the night at Egton Bridge we followed the river and the Esk Valley Walk out of the wind at last.
The route through East Arnecliff Wood
As you enter the village of Egton Bridge this stone is passed
The party was split between accommodation at The Old Mill and Broom House. This is the River Esk from the road between the two. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egton_Bridge
Broom House http://www.broom-house.co.uk/
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