Weardale Way Day 5 - Willington to Escomb - Co Durham 6 Feb 2019

Weardale Way - Day 5
Willington to Escomb and return
Co Durham
Distance 22km Climb 240m 
Wednesday 6 February 2019 

I had walked from Shincliffe to Willington in June 2017, that was my fourth part of my 124 km Weardale Way shown on the LDWA website. Today was my fifth day on the Way and I was going to walk a little further.

I was trying to walk the route by just following any signs I could see, it was an adventure and I was not too bothered where I wandered. I had looked at the route on the LDWA website so roughly had an idea where I would be heading. The large River Wear would be my natural navigation. 

I started at the Jubilee Meadows Park, Willington where I had stopped for my sandwiches on my last walk on the Way. Before leaving the carpark I picked up my first Geocache of the day. Returning to the River I walked by the north side of the River Wear, I followed it as it headed north west. 

It was a bright sunny day although a little cold. In places where the sun had reached the path it had melted the ice and it was slippery mud. Where it was still frozen it was slippery ice and on a few occasions I was glad to have my walking poles. I continued by the River as it turned south west, soon it would be headed due south.

I saw a large sign showing I was now on the Ian Bell Memorial Walk. I didn't know anything about this until I got home and looked it up on the internet. Ian was a young boy who had been swept away in the River when it was swollen, a number of years ago. It was a very sad and tragic event.

Ignoring a footbridge over the River I continued along what was now the western bank. After approximately a couple of km I was passing Furness Mill Farm. The path now enters a wood, after a few hundred meters it crosses a stream by a narrow footbridge and up the steep side of what I would call a dingly dell. It was lovely and the colours of the fallen leaves mixed with the ground and the green of the bushes was lovely. I had to take care going up as it was very slippery.

At the top the Way leaves the wood and heads around open fields before crossing to a collection of a few houses.

At the road a sign for the Way directed me left, east. After approximately 300m I reached this style and totally did my own thing, I crossed the style and followed the edge of the field around to the left, missing a kissing gate on the road which was the right way to go. I could see Bishop Auckland down to my right but the path took me left.

I followed the field edge and at the bottom had to walk through a large wet muddy area being watched by a few horses and I could see they were wondering what I was doing.

Anyway back on the proper path I reached a Way sign near Farnley. Which pointed down a track due south. It was wet muddy and very slippery along the track and again I was glad of my walking poles. Crossing a field full of curious horses I could see the built up flood bank, used to protect the plain, very much like what I had seen on other parts of the Way and I thought had this been built by the 14th century monks who had build the flood bank at Houghall? 

At the end of the field the Way turns from the River slightly and follows the edge of open fields skirting a wood that follows the River. 

When I got home I checked out my walk on my maps, I was amazed to see that near here I crossed the route of Dere Street a famous Roman Road that travels from York to Scotland. I had crossed this on another walk a lot further north. The Pennine Way. 

From the end of the field the path narrows and I could see a new tall green fence with Bishop Auckland not too far in the distance.

The Weardale Way took me beside this fence which was the site of the world famous Kynren. It was easy walking here a loose stone path led me south.  

I soon saw the Newton Cap Viaduct. After passing the end of the Kynren site the Way turns right, west slightly.

Near some cottages passing under the Viaduct and up onto a road. I turned left and crossed a narrow road bridge. Looking across I could see the arches of the Viaduct and they do look impressive. 

Crossing the bridge I could see a Weardale Way sign up the road on my right.

The Way turned right, south west towards the rugby club. I had a short rest and had a cup of red hot drinking chocolate. That flask was a good buy.

I followed the road as it passed the rugby club and onward to the end of the lane, after crossing the style I took the slippery path uphill. At the top there was a number of paths heading to my right into a small wooded area. I was hit by a very sharp shower which did not last very long, but enough for me to think about putting my waterproofs on.

I had climbed too far, rather than following the River I found myself next too the railway line, so I found a path that led me down hill back to the River. In parts it was still frozen and other places it was very wet and I was again glad I had my walking poles.

Following by the River after a few hundred meters a sign for the Way led me away from the River on a path by a rust coloured stream.

At the top of the rusty stream the path crossed a style then a turn north through the trees led me to open fields. I could see Escomb over the hedges as I returned to the River walking north then west.

Crossing a couple of fields and a small paddock with some horses I reached a footpath. A left turn, south south west up the footpath and I reached the edge of Escomb.

Following the road around I saw the Saxon Church of Escomb. Where after I had read the local notices I decided to stop in the church yard for my jam sandwiches and a couple of drinks of hot chocolate.

Sitting there I spotted a couple of interesting looking grave stones. The notices suggest looking out for Roman stones used in the making of the church and reports this as the oldest complete Saxon Church in the country.

After my break I had a look around the outside of the church to see some of the features highlighted on the notice. It was then time to head back.

I returned to the River and turned right, retracing my steps.

On my way back as I passed the rugby club I had a quick look for another Geocache in the area. Unfortunately I could not find this one.

Moving on, when I reached the road I turned right and climbed the hill onto the Newton Gap Viaduct. Where I found this Geocache.

From the top of the Viaduct I could see for miles and collected another Geocache near the main entrance to Kynren.

I continued along the footpath for a few hundred meters before dropping down the edge of a field back onto the Weardale Way, the path I had walked in on. Allowing me to follow the same route back only in reverse.

I spotted clumps of small snowdrops all over on my walk, they were lovely.

A couple of large swans flew overhead with there deep honking noise, a fantastic sight.

When I reached Farnley I followed the sign up along the road, instead of walking the edge of the field, as I had previously, on my way out. It was the right way and a better way to walk. At the top I followed the signs right across a field and round back into the wood. Across the flat of the field I could see a large number of molehills. Strange I hadn't noticed on my walk up the hill but they were set up in large circles across the field.

Entering the wood I was soon looking down into the dingly dell. It was very slippery going down here and I had to take my time.

Back passed Furness Mill Farm and the footbridge.

Where I turned away from the River to see if I could collect a couple more Geocaches. I collected this one at Sunnybrow.

I continued walking through Willington, I only had a short time to look for the Geocache near here before moving on. I did not find it.

Wandering around a few streets I came to the War Memorial.

Where I took the path from the road as it twisted and turns down hill. At the bottom I crossed the field towards the River.  

After a few hundred meters I was back at the carpark. It had been a good day, I had collected 4 out of 6 Geocaches. Walked 22km with a 240m climb. The weather had stayed fine so an excellent day all round.

More to follow

Boz North
Details correct at time of walking.

If you have enjoyed reading my walk or found it useful you may also like to read other walks I have done on The Weardale Way or other areas. Please check out the links on the right hand side.

Follow link to my previous walk on the Weardale Way Shincliffe to Willington.
Follow link to my next walk on the Weardale Way Escomb to Sandy Bank Cottage (NZ 136 336)

ECP - Whitby to Robin Hood's Bay - North Yorkshire 8 Dec 2018

English Coastal Path
Whitby to Robin Hood's Bay and Return
North Yorkshire
Distance 27km Climb 660m
Saturday 8 December 2018

Number 17 in ITV's Britain's Favourite Walks shown January 2018.
As part of Anne's birthday celebrations we were having a few days away. This year Whitby was Anne's birthday choice.

Anne had found a really lovely B&B, Riftswood, owned by Paula and Pete along with Denzil, only a few hundred meters from the coast. The English Coastal Path (ECP) and Cleveland Way are only two of the many walks along this part of the coast. Paula made us very welcome on our arrival with wine/tea and home made cake. We had had a really good few days and would like to come back again.

Following a really nice, very full English breakfast, that set us up for the day, Pete a member of the Civic Society shared information on a number of things about Whitby and suggested a few things too look out for on our walk.

Leaving Riftswood we turned left down a footpath to walk eastwards along the Promenade. Last night we had a walk around the area and I collect the two Geocaches nearby.

Along the Promenade, near the Whitby Pavillion we passed this reminder of the bombardment on Whitby and the impact on the Coastguard Station. When in December 1914 the German High Seas Fleet bombarded Scarborough, Whitby and Hartlepool, I had passed a memorial to this sad event on an earlier walk when I visited The Hartlepool Headland.

Further along The Promenade we passed a statue to Captain Cook who is overlooking the harbour of Whitby. Nearby is the World famous Whale Bone Arch.

Walking through the Arch we took the steps down passing the Khyber Pass Café and walked beside the Lifeboat Museum onto Pier Road. Turning right we passed the arcades and shops onto St Anns Staith, before turning left onto the Swing Bridge, crossing the River Esk.

A left again onto Sandgate and after a few meters we were at the Lucky Duck shop. This was where we saw one of the ghost signs of old Whitby, that Pete had suggested we look out for. Anne had told me this was the same Lucky Duck shop she came to when as a little girl she had visited Whitby with her parents. It must have been many years ago when The Lucky Duck shop had been a butchers, hence the sheep and a cow in the tiles on the front.

While Anne had a look around the shop I took the opportunity to collect another Geocache near the RNLI building. Before returning to join Anne in the Market Place, near Arnie's.

Walking up onto Church Street we headed to the bottom of the 199 steps. A few shops later and we started up the Steps.

We both counted 198, Pete had warned that if you did not get the 199 you had to start again. Another of Pete's suggestions was to visit The Parish Church of St Mary's to see the Christmas Trees. So instead of counting the steps again we called into the Church. It was lovely, many were decorated as dedications from family and friends who had lost loved ones. Others were from local organisations.

Continuing through St Mary's Parish Church grave yard we crossed onto Abbey Road and followed it round to the left. With the Abbey behind us we took the footpath along the Cleveland Way. You can also see the acorn for the ECP.

We took the footpath up to the cliff edge and followed it along the coast. There was a cold biting wind blowing along here and it was strong on our backs, helping us along the way. You can see the sky was clear and bright.

It was an easy path to follow, we could see the coastal path rise and fall as it stretched into the distance.

After crossing a few gates we followed the path as it curves round and drops down into a holiday  park. Walking through the holiday park a path dropped down to our left heading for a beach, we continued along the ECP and walking through a gate leaving the holiday camp.

Our path took us by the edge of open fields to our right and a low fence on our left up a gently slope as it rises and curves south east. It was a lovely day for walking and we passed a number of people heading towards Whitby.

The path was now very slippery in places. After approximately a km we came to the Whitby Fog Signal.

Taking the path down to pass in front of the Whitby Fog Signal, which look like holiday lets. We continued along the path to the lighthouse wall and climbed up to the road by the wall before following the path up and behind the lighthouse. The lighthouse has signs showing it has property which can be used for holidays.

A short drop then the path turns a little with views of the cliffs and the path stretching out ahead.

Following the path as it twists, climbs and moves behind the cliff. At the top it drops slightly and levels for a few hundred meters. After crossing through a gate there is a short cut climbing slightly as it crosses a field, you can see many people have taken this short cut. On looking closer the worn grass looks like a split in the ground? It travels for a few meters and looks like it has been there a long time. At the top of the rise was a seat and a lady was quite happy to say they were there first. Not that we had planned to stop, as we continued down hill.

Steps took us down onto a stone steps into what we call a dingily dell. Across the stream the stone steps led us upwards and onwards on the other side.

We would pass up and down a number of dingily dells on this part of the walk. Reaching the next footpath sign we could see we were just over half way to Robin Hood's Bay.

We continued following the coastal path, and found another dingily dell.

At the bottom of one of the dingily dells we stopped for a short rest and a drink of hot chocolate. Anne spotted a large Robin but unfortunately I have been having some trouble with my camera and the photo did not come out very clear.

The path was turning more towards the south than east as we continued along, viewing high stunning cliffs.

We came to a point we could see across Robin Hood's Bay as we turned more south west. Eventually the fishing village of Robin Hood's Bay came into sight and after finding a geocache on the edge of the village we walked between houses onto the Whitby Road.

Stopping at The Grosvenor for a well deserved shandy we were entertained by carol singers.

After our break we followed the carol singers down the road.

As the carol singers turned into another venue we heading down hill into the older part of the village.

At the bottom we passed through a number of narrow streets and saw people dressed up as Victorian's. This was the Robin Hood's Bay Victorian Weekend. There were more Victorian toffs than scruffs. I dare say if you are going to dress up you would want to wear nice clothes rather than rags.

I saw the sign on the Bay Hotel marking the end of the Coast to Coast. Another walk I would like to do.

Anne had a little look around the stalls set up in the Old Coastguard Station.

Pete has shares in a boat in Robin Hood's Bay, unfortunately we could not find it, perhaps next time.

Returning back to the top onto New Road, we could see the bus back to Whitby. Anne had already decided to take the bus back and as it was there took the opportunity to jump on it.

I had decided to walk back and once Anne was on the bus lost no time in setting off. I knew it would be dark when I arrived back in Whitby but I had my torch and now knew the route. The wind had dropped and was calm and it was not as cold as it had been.

I took the same route back as we had taken out. It was just as I started walking again my camera finally gave up. I was left with taking a few photos from my phone.

It turned fully dark as I approached the lighthouse and I was using my torch. It was a nice walk back. Unlike our walk out where we had seen a number of people walking both ways. On my way back I did not see anyone until I reached the holiday park. Where a few people were staying and a few dog walkers were out and about.

Once out the holiday park I was on the easy path along the top. I could see the Abbey as I was approaching Whitby. This was the best photo I could get on my phone.



Then it was down to St Mary's Parish Church grave yard where I got a photo of Whitby all lit up.

It was then back down the 199 steps, I missed counted them again and will admit I didn't go back to start again.

After meeting up with Anne we had some fish and chips and a few drinks. It was late when we returned to Riftswood. I had walked 27km with 660m climb, Anne had walked 14km. We got caught in the rain which had been forecasted for today, however we were fortunate that it had held off. Although a cold day it had been a great day for walking.

We had a great couple of days and will be coming back and would like to stay at Riftswood again.

More to follow


Boz North
Details correct at time of walking.

If you have enjoyed reading my walk or found it useful you may also like to read other walks I have done on The English Coastal Path or other areas. Please check out the links on the right hand side.