Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
left towards Glaisdale Hall Farm. The onward route now follows the line of
an ancient highway, climbing at first by a grassy path and then into low
heather across Glaisdale Rigg, high above the valley of Glaisdale to the
south.
Gradually the trail broadens, and eventually meets a surfaced moorland
road (from Lealholm to Rosedale Abbey) high on a narrow neck of land
sandwiched between Glaisdale and Great Fryup Dale. Go left along the
road for about 1.5km (1 mile), leaving it by a rough track heading right
(southwest), and swinging around the head of Great Fryup Dale to an old
shooting hut, Trough House, shortly after which another unenclosed moor-
land road is encountered.
Note Between this point and the Lion Inn at the top of Blakey Ridge, the
simplest way is to follow the road. That's not so traumatic an experience
as you might expect, since they all have good verges and (other than at
weekends) little traffic. It is possible to shortcut a few obvious corners by
delving into bog and heather in the hope of saving a little time, but there
is little to recommend this.
From the road just after Trough House, go left to a junction, and there
turn right (this corner can be cut by a path through heather). Follow the
road to another junction, passing a low moorland cross on the right (Fat
Betty). This stretch of road walking is avoidable by following a line of old boundary
stones, saving around 100m.
Continue to a further junction near a car park, and not far from another
moorland cross, Ralph Cross (page 158; Moorland Crosses, page 158),
which has been adopted as the symbol of the North York Moors National
Park. At the junction turn left and walk on as far as the Lion Inn, passing
(on the right) a large and ungainly standing stone known as Margery Brad-
ley. (The stretch between Fat Betty and Margery Bradley can be shortcut,
saving a few minutes, but missing Ralph Cross.)
As the Lion Inn is approached, a path rises right to an ancient raised
mound, Blakey Howe. In more recent times it was used for cockfighting.
Everyone should stop at the Lion Inn (hopefully it will be open). There is a long haul
ahead, without sustenance of any kind, and a break here, even if only for a cup of tea,
would be a good idea.
At Blakey Howe, head right, following a wall and descending slightly to
meet the trackbed of the Rosedale Ironstone Railway (page 155). At the
trackbed go right and follow this easy route for almost 8km (5 miles)
around the hear of Farndale until, at a gate, the Cleveland Way appears
from the right, to guide you on. Continue ahead, and a few hundred
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