The heat has been taking its toll with long hot hikes and hot sleeping. Temperatures were predicted to be another day of high 80’s, so we compromised by walking about half of the day’s mileage, seeing some history, and then Ubering to our night’s accommodation. That would allow us some time to also see the seaside where we had dinner reservations.
Richard’s ReLive video is here: https://www.relive.com/view/v36A9zypXG6
6.21 miles, 817 feet elevation gain. 73 degrees and sunny at 10 am but high 80’s in the afternoon. Cooler breezes at the seaside.o
Rob is again our taxi ride back to the car park for Captain Cook’s monument. We say goodbye before we climb (again) to get back on the trail.
The trail is following fields of bracken without a shade tree in sight. Look carefully to see Captain Cook’s minument on the hill behind us.
An optional spur for today’s hike would be to climb Roseberry Topping. No way!
We are seeing more ocean views now, including these offshore wind turbines.
We’re climbing out of the moors and can see trees ahead. Black shelters are evenly spaced across the hill. We have no idea what purpose they serve, but we later found out they are probably bird blinds for grouse hunters. Their hunting season begins in mid-August.
Just as we turned into the wooded area, we came upon these hikers having lunch. Susan, Neil, Rose, and Bruce (l-r) are part of a local hiking group and were out for a loop walk today. We swapped stories and they gave us some advice for “must see” items the next few days.
We decided to keep going to see if we could find a bench for our lunch. At least it’s shady!
Turning the corner, we’re on a knob.
This is the trail stairway to climb above the knob. Not “Jan friendly!”
Luckily there was a road that appeared to head in the direction to town, so we adapted our route. It was sunnier but would work on our plan to go into Guisborough.
The walk into town is through a residential neighborhood but we’re hoping for a place to get a cold drink.
Guisborough is also a place John Wesley visited multiple times between 1759 and 1788. There is a Methodist Church in town, but we did not see it, instead opting to see the priory ruins.
There is not a lot left of the 1119 priory of St. Mary the Virgin. It was founded by the Bruce family, later Kings of Scotland, and helped Guisborough grow to a successful market town before the priory was dissolved in 1540.
One problem is that the town grew up around the priory, so when it was dissolved and fell into ruin, townspeople took parts of it for their own use. Sadly it was not as well preserved.
The Norman gates are the oldest part of the priory setting.
Our accommodation for the evening was in Saltburn-by-the-Sea, a Victorian sea town with a lower village seaside promenade. With the abnormally warm temperatures, folks were out enjoying the sea and fresh air, even though we were there on a week night.
Stewart and Sue were our hosts for the evening. We had a bedroom and sitting room/kitchen on the third floor of their 1900 Victorian home.
The pier was opened in May 1869 and was immediately popular. Visitors paid to walk the 1500 feet of timber decking, and steamer passengers could disembark at the pier head.
Even the difficulty getting up the cliff was considered. An ingenious design for the first funicular railroad in Great Britain was installed in 1884.
Colorful bath houses on the beach were popular. This is the cliff view from the pier.
Sadly, the funicular was not running.
Sunset was still a ways off but the evening sun gave plenty of time to enjoy the surf. Look closely and you may see the offshore wind turbines we had been seeing most of the day.
2 Responses
Elwin loves funiculars. But, he always wants to ride them. What difficult hikes you endured! Hot weather must have made them more difficult.
Thought your journey on the trails would be a bit easier this trip but they look just as challenging. You are amazing to be doing 10+ miles every day. Dan and Wendy