Yorkshire Walks

Setting off

Emboldened by second vaccinations, frustrated by many months of lock-down, enthused by a continuing fortnight of sunshine and desperate to glimpse the sea for the first time since 2019, we allowed the Sat Nav to lead us to Hawsker where a free park can usually be found at NZ925077.

The Cinder Track

We went down some precarious steps to join it to head east, but wiser folk might choose instead access it using the right-of-way in the adjacent field that leads to a stile. On reaching a metalled road we turned left and followed it towards Hawsker Bottoms and then via a caravan park to the Cleveland Way.

We set off along the B1447, turning left after 250 metres by the High Hawsker bus shelter/letter-box on to a farm track that passes some farm buildings to reach a bridge across the route of the defunct Whitby-Scarborough railway, now known as "the Cinder Track".

Road to Hawsker Bottoms

Caravan Site office

Caravan site entrance

down to the Cleveland Way

After a staggered cross-over we continued, veering to the left of a copse which masks sewage treatment works. The Cleveland Way came into view and we joined it, heading west towards Whitby.

The caravan park entrance is just beyond the attractive site office. Our route led downhill past the neat row of vans with a backdrop of the ocean.

Caravan site thoroughfare

Arriving on the Cleveland Way

Reaching the coastal path

Drop to the first of 3 small ravines

Gorse and Widdy Head

Looking back from Widdy Head

South Whitby lighthouse

All too soon we reached the descent to the South Whitby lighthouse. Despite recommendations from Cleveland Way walkers that we sample the culinary delights allegedly available at the Fog Station we joined a metalled road to turn inland and ascend to Ling Hill farm. There we turned off left through a farm gate on to a bridleway that climbed gently to Beacon Hill farm and the adjacent Whitby Laithes farm.

Soon we traversed the first of three small ravines cut by streams flowing into the sea. The fine weather augmented the scenery of the coastal walk towards and beyond Widdy Head. Primroses adorned the descent into the final ravine: the Widdy stream. Nearby, a couple of ponies grazed contentedly, uninterested and disinterested in by-passers who evidently conform to the request that they should not be fed.

Distant Widdy Field farm

Horse grazes by the Cleveland Way

Descent to South Whitby Lighthouse

Left turn at Ling Hill farm

Beacon Hill farm

Whitby Laithes farm

New life in the field at Gnipe Howe . . .

My poor eyesight always causes a few seconds delay whilst I aim the camera. I took a shot, stowed the camera and hastened to catch up with my wife. Only later, on examining the photograph, did I discover that the animal on the right must have abruptly collapsed, as its image is horizontal. Had it been about to give birth?

There another left turn set us on course via main farm tracks for Gnipe Howe farm where cows were grazing. The animals appeared uncommonly robust and well-fed - sufficiently so to warrant a photograph. My subject would be a pair of large, white, apparently pregnant cows who were steadily munching.

Primroses on descent to Widdy stream

. . . and death in the same field or just a difficult labour?

Following a right turn at Gnipe Howe the route back to Hawsker was by a farm track to the bridge where we had earlier joined the Cinder Track. Overall distance was 8.7km and time taken was 3 hours. Younger walkers who prefer a longer route in order to spend more time on the coastal path can extend ours slightly by remaining a further 0.85 km or 1.8 km on the Cinder Track before taking left turns to join the Cleveland Way via permissive paths.

High Hawsker letter box