RELAXING ROSEDALE

This is the first August Bank holiday we have spent in the UK since 2007, so we opted out of going anywhere until the Monday, when hopefully everyone will be coming home!

Grabbed another few days of sun at Low Bell End Farm in Rosedale Abbey,  this place is so remote the phone won't even work...but we do have TV!

On Tuesday we hiked from the campsite up on to the moor top and along the old tramway track to Rosedale chimney, although the chimney is no longer there, we both remember it from our childhood. The old kilns still standing were used for roasting the iron ore. Across Spaunton Moor past Ana Cross then back into the valley along tracks to Rosedale Abbey then the campsite – about 7 miles. We had to spend about half an hour picking blueberries – I've never seen so many on the moors before, its a tedious job but so much better than bought ones.

VIEW FROM OUR VAN

LOOKING DOWN ON CAMPSITE, OUR VAN AND THE GLAMPING TEEPEES TO THE LEFT

                                           UP ON THE OLD IRON ORE TRAMWAY

IRON ORE KILNS AT TOP OF ROSEDALE CHIMNEY

ANA CROSS AND ANI

ROY THE BBQ EXPERT!

Rosedale Church - there has never has been an Abbey at Rosedale. There was a priory which used to be on the site of this church

Wednesday – back on Spaunton Moor, this time we took the car to the top of Rosedale Chimney and started a circular walk opposite to yesterday. We were supposed to get to Hutton le Hole after skirting Lastingham but my intrepid map reader mis read the directions and we got into Lastingham, missed out Hutton le Hole and hiked back past Ana Cross to see where we should have walked...... a beautiful 7 mile hike with miles of fragrant heather, did you know that the North York Moors have the largest continuous area of heather in England?

Lunch in Lastingham and a look round the unusual church which was surprisingly open.

BLOWING A BIT ON TOP OF THE MOOR!

LASTINGHAM CHURCH

THE ALTAR IN THE CRYPT

THE BELLS! THE BELLS!

BACK TO ANA CROSS BY MISTAKE!

 

Last day – gorgeous weather – not so great hike! Well I am sure Roy enjoyed it but I was not in the best mood, there was steep downhill mud trails, long stretches in the woods and a steep climb up to the moor below the hole of Horcum. However we did see the steam train of the North Yorks Moors Railway and the pretty ruins of Skeleton Tower overlooking Newtondale and the lovely heather and endless sheep!

Another fab mini break!

SKELETON TOWER