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Lythe Circular via Goldsborough

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Date 12/10/06
Leader: Russell S
Distance: 8 miles
Weather: Cloudy at first then fine and sunny.
Walkers 9
Parking: Opposite The Stiddy Pub in Lythe
Map: Ordnance Survey OL27
   

Route Summary - Lythe, Cleveland Way, High Cliff, Goldsborough, Overdale, Lythe.

 

We started our walk at Lythe. The place name "Lythe" is derived from 'hlith' - meaning "the slope" or "slope" in Old Scandinavian, the language of the Vikings which was a combination of Old Danish and Old Norse.

From Lythe we walked in an easterly direction along the main road until after passing St. Oswald's Church we joined a footpath on our left heading towards the sea. At the end of the field we turned right and then negotiated some steps, winding steeply downhill, to meet the Cleveland Way above the cliff tops overlooking Sandsend. Although early in the walk this was an ideal place for a coffee stop giving us great views of the coast below and more importantly some large rocks to sit on.

Coastline seen from Cleveland Way

From here we walked north following the Cleveland Way. By now the sky had cleared and we enjoyed a great 4 mile walk along the cliff tops with wonderful views of the coastline throughout with Runswick Bay coming into view up ahead. Much evidence of the industrial past of the area could be seen - disused quarries etc - but this only added to the interest.

At High Cliff we left the Cleveland Way, walking south to Claymoor then through Brockrigg Farm to meet up with Goldsborough Lane. Here we took a slight detour to find Wade's Stone which we eventually located at the back of the field that we had just walked through.

We all decided that the stone must have been named after General Wade the military engineer, but it appears that was wrong.

Wade is thought of in England as a giant, and stories connect him with various ruinous remains - but elsewhere he is a sea god. Some say Wade's grave is at Goldsborough others say it is at East Barnby where there is another Wade's stone.

St. Oswald's Church

 

From here we followed the road into Goldsborough, a little village with a farm, a few sandstone houses and just around the corner - a pub, The Fox and Hounds. We had to give it a try - it had a limited selection of beers but a nice atmosphere and is said to do very good food.

Just after leaving the village we joined a footpath on our left which took us across fields to rejoin Goldsborough Lane . Here we turned left soon to join a path on our right. From here we continued through Overdale farm and Overdale back to Lythe. Before getting to our cars we couldn't resist the chance to explore the ancient St. Oswald's church.

 

 

We then returned to the car park opposite 'The Stiddy' pub. We wondered what Stiddy meant with no definite conclusion. A trawl on the internet revealed that a"stiddy" is an anvil packed full of gunpowder and fired like a cannon on special occasions.

Now it was a quick drive to another 'Fox and Hounds' this time near Guisborough for our usual post walk refreshments.