THE NORTH YORK MOORS - A Northern Coast to Coast Walk: From St Bees to Robin Hood's Bay - page 108

Heading for Hasty Bank
The main line, however, goes right just before the stream, through a
gate to follow a dilapidated wall ahead, and then left before continuing to
the top of the moor.
The summit of Cold Moor is marked by a modest sandstone cairn, and is
followed by a short and delightful walk along the escarpment edge, des-
cending to a gate above Garfit Gap. Continue ahead along the line of a
collapsed wall, passing through two gaps in lateral walls. A final short pull
leads to the Wainstones, a tumble of boulders and rock outcrops that rep-
resent one of only a small number of rock-climbing opportunities in the
North York Moors.
Various paths weave a way through the Wainstones, beyond which easy
walking leads on across the plateau of Hasty Bank. Stay with the edge
of Hasty Bank's escarpment (a pleasant prospect) before tackling the
steep descent to the top of a plantation and wall corner (stile), from
there descending a paved and stepped path beside the wall to meet the
B1257 Stokesley-Helmsley road at Clay Bank Top, more correctly known
as 'Hagg's Gate'. Sometimes, just left (north) of Clay Bank Top, a mobile snack bar
turns up. Don't count on it, but it could provide a little extra sustenance.
Throughout the whole of this lengthy traverse, the highlight has been
the superb views northwards and the dramatic escarpment dropping to
forestry and farmland below, while the pinnacles of the Wainstones
provide a stark contrast to the luxurious vegetation that has patterned the
journey from Ingleby Cross.