Rain, rain and more rain - interspersed with, yes you've guessed it - rain! Maybe this was a bit of an exaggeration because it did brighten up a little towards the end of the walk.
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We were dropped off on the B1257 near Hagg End (GR 570924). We then followed footpaths, mainly across fields, through Lincoln Slack woodland then onto Bumper Hagg and the Sportsman's Hall.
We hadn't walked very far before we came across a voluntary ranger walking towards us. It was comforting to know that we were not the only crazy people out walking in the rain! |
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He told us that several bridges were still impassable after last year's floods. Luckily this didn't cause us any major problems.
After crossing a minor road, we continued on a footpath keeping Hawnby Hill Crag to our left until reaching a minor road where we turned left into Hawnby.
We decided to take shelter form the rain in the Hawnby Hotel. Mick popped his head around the door to check whether we could enter wearing our boots. "No problem" he said, although he looked a bit surprised when 15 very damp walkers trooped in! Beers (or coffees) all round. Talking of coffee, a leaflet in the pub advertised a coffee shop at the post office further down the road. It boasted "Muddy boots and bums welcome!" - it also opened out of hours by appointment. That's the sort of establishment that needs our custom - maybe next time.
We arrived just before some groups arrived for their Sunday lunch. They were heard to exclaim "They've taken all the seats AND they've got boots on!". It was tempting to stay longer but we had to get on - we still had a long way to walk! We left the pub and then spied a convenient bus shelter, an interesting wooden design dated 1906 - ideal for having lunch but not quite big enough so some of us, the gentlemen in the group, volunteered to stand outside.
We then walked down the hill to cross a metal bridge, temporarily replacing the stone Hawnby Bridge severely damaged during the floods of 2005. Just after the bridge we turned left onto a footpath then did a bit of road walking until at Shaken Bridge Farm we turned left to join a footpath walking parallel to the River Rye to Rievaulx.
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The abbey was founded by St Bernard of Clairvaux, as part of the missionary effort to reform Christianity in Western Europe . Just 12 Clairvaux monks came to Rievaulx in 1132. From these modest beginnings grew one of the wealthiest monasteries of medieval England and the first northern Cistercian monastery. |
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We had time here for a quick coffee stop before rejoining the road. At Rievaulx Bridge we turned left along the road then turned right to join the Cleveland Way towards Helmsley.
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By the side of the road a damson tree laden with fruit was spotted. Out came the plastic bags and Tupperware boxes for a bit of scrumping.
Soon we arrived at Helmsley where we could see the impressive ruins of Helmsley Castle . |
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The castle was built in the early 12th century, although most of what is now remains dates from Robert de Roos who added to the castle in the late 12th/early 13th century. The castle's only involvement in military action took place in 1644 during the Civil War when parliamentary forces laid siege to the castle.
Now we had to fill in time before the coach left for home. Some of us went to a nearby coffee shop or did a bit of shopping; the rest of us went to the Royal Oak . Yes it had been a thoroughly wet day but we still managed to enjoy ourselves. |