A week of extreme weather conditions. Wednesday 23rd January 2013.

View from the Cleveland Way Long Distance Footpath south of Sutton Bank looking north west at a frozen Lake Gormire and Whitestone Cliff. 

View from the Cleveland Way at Whitestone Cliff ( north of Sutton Bank ) looking south to Roulston Scar and Hood Hill. Wed. 23rd Jan. 

Looking down on an almost completely frozen Lake Gormire from Whitestone Cliff ( Wed. 23rd Jan. )

View of White Mare Crag from the Cleveland Way ( north of Sutton Bank ). Wed. 23rd Jan.

View of Lake Gormire from the Cleveland Way. ( Wed. 23rd Jan. )

Heading back to Sutton Bank ( late afternoon ). ( Wed. 23rd Jan. )

Looking from St. James House across St. James Green and the roofs of the town centre. ( Sat. 26th Jan. )

Out the back of St. James House ( Sat. 26th Jan. )

Looking east from St. James House to Sutton Bank 5 miles away. Early morning ( Sat. 26th Jan. )

Looking from St. James House across St. James Green to St. Mary's Church 24 hours after the above local snow scenes - rapid thaw.  Sun. 27th Jan. 

View from St. James House looking across St. James Green and the roofs of the town centre. ( Sun. 27th Jan. )

Sunday afternoon and this the result of the rapid thaw. A flooded Cod Beck River close to St. Mary's Church. Sun. 27th Jan.

The flooded Cod Beck has recreated the moat around this medieval site. ( Sun. 27th Jan. )

The flooded Cod Beck River and the impassable footpath from St. Mary's Church to St. James Green. Cottages on St. James Green can be seen in the back ground. ( Sun. 27th Jan. )

The flooded Cod Beck River and the Millgate Bridge. The low walled area at the left hand side of the bridge is the site of the old water powered mill which had been disused for many years and which was demolished round about the year 1970. The Mallards are making the most of the extra paddling area and are enjoying themselves. ( Sun. 27th Jan. )

The Cleveland Way Long Distance Footpath - Sutton Bank to Kilburn White Horse section.

This is a walk that I went on the Cleveland Way on the afternoon of Wednesday, 16th January, 2013. The day was sunny and there was hardly any wind so it didn't feel too cold. It is a short section from the Sutton Bank car park and Visitors Centre to the Kilburn White Horse. It takes about one hour's total time walking there and back at a brisk pace. This is a very popular walk and is only about 10 minutes drive from Thirsk along the A170. There are spectacular views across the Vale of York to the Yorkshire Dales National Park to the west. 

This view is of Roulston Scar and Hood Hill. Hood Hill has neolithic defensive earth works round the top and is well worth a visit. There is also a crater near the top which was created by a Sabre jet aircraft from Linton-on-Ouse ( near York ) which crashed there in 1954. 

This view is looking north along The Cleveland Way Footpath towards the Sutton Bank car park and visitors centre which is only about 5 minutes walk away. Lake Gormire can be seen to the left. The memorial stone to the left of the footpath is in memory of airmen who died in two seperate air crashes nearby. 

This is a similar view to the one above but with the Whitestone Cliff visible. 

Another view of Roulston Scar and Hood Hill. The information board carries details of one of our greatest artists, William Turner. He travelled widely around Britain and the continent on horseback. He visited here and made numerous drawings for his paintings.

This view shows Lake Gormire, Whitestone Cliff and the A170 1 in 4 ( 25% ) Sutton Bank road.

View from Roulston Scar looking across to Whitestone Cliff.

View of the Yorkshire Gliding Club site adjacent to the Cleveland Way. There are many long distance flights made from this site when conditions are suitable and there have been many flights to great heights ( in excess of 30,000 feet ) using the mountain wave systems. Many gliders are equipped with oxygen systems to reach these great heights. The oxygen equipment is necessary above  12,000 feet above sea level. The gliding club welcomes the general public to visit it and trial flights are available. There is also viewing gallery in the club house and a cafe where food and drinks can be purchased. The club is open most days throughout the year. For those interested in archaeology the gliding club is situated on the site of the largest iron age hill fort in the country.  

Walk today from Sutton Bank down to and around Lake Gormire and back to Sutton Bank.

Today's walk was on a day that was very cold and the conditions were muddy and very slippery. The Vale of York was covered in fog as far one could see in any direction. I headed north along the Cleveland Way Foot Path for about  half a mile from which I took the photograph and descended down the very muddy and slippery footpath to Lake Gormire. 

Photograph of Lake Gormire.

This photograph of the red fungi ( haven't a clue what they are called ) was on the far side of the lake.

Eventually, having battled through mud, reminiscent of The Somme, around the lake and climbing back up through the muddy old pack horse trail of Thirlby Bank I eventually reached the top. At the top you can see Lake Gormire below, White Mare or Whitestone Cliff to the left and Hood hill in the background. You can see the fog in the background.

Returned to Sutton Bank and crossed the A170 road to head briefly south along the Cleveland Way footpath to take the following photographs. This photograph shows Hood Hill and Roulston Scar.

Looking west across the fogbound Vale of York to the Pennines ( which you can't see because of the fog!! ) Hood Hill, which was occupied in neolithic times and is the site of a Sabre Jet Jet aircraft which crashed vertically into it in 1954.

Looking west across the fog bound Vale of York at sunset.

 Similar to the previous photograph.

Looking west across the fog bound Vale of York.

The Clevelend Way - Long Distance Footpath

Had fairly good weather last week so made time to go walking on the nearby Cleveland Way Long Distance Footpath which follows the boundary of the North Yorkshire Moors National Park.
These photographs are of Old English Longhorn Cattle which are situated in a field belonging  to Garbutts Farm adjacent to the Cleveland Way about 5 minutes walk north of the Sutton Bank Visitors centre. 

Who are you looking at??!!!

The photograph of the Whitestone Cliff ( also known as White Mare Crag ) overlooks Lake Gormire and is adjacent to the Cleveland Way L.D.F/P and is about 10 minutes walk ( fast pace ) north of Sutton Bank.

Whitestonecliffe overlooking lake Gormire

This photograph is less than 5 minutes walk further North of the previous photograph and close to Thirlby Bank bridleway which in previous centuries was one of the many pack horse trails that criss cross the moors. Down below the hill is South Woods Hall which is where Donald Sinclair ( aka Siegfried Farnon, the senior veterinary partner in the world famous television series All Creatures Great and Small lived prior to his death ).  
Just a few miles to the north in the valley below is the village of Boltby.

Looking north

This photograph is taken close to the previous photograph above. To the left is Whitestone Cliff and below right is a glimpse of Lake Gormire.

looking south with Hood Hill in the background

This photograph of the memorial plaque below is dedicated to the memory of the airmen of 2 crashed aircraft close to Sutton Bank. It only a few minutes walk south of the Sutton Bank v/c. 

War Memorial

Both of these 2 photographs are taken about 5 minutes walk south of the Sutton Bank v/c and show Whitestone Cliff and Lake Gormire below. The vehicles are on the lower part of Sutton Bank road.

Called in at the Yorkshire Gliding Club at Sutton Bank last week. The glider is a K21 2 seater aircraft. Going through last minute checks prior to connecting the tow rope which is connected to the out of sight towing aircraft.  

Yorkshire Gliding Club