To York - via the White Rose Way

Now it is time to head inland.  After much searching we decided the newish path called the White Rose Way (not sure why) would be the most direct, and safest way, to get to York.

Originally it had planned to go across part of the Yorkshire Moors, but given the potential bad weather, I decided we had to find a safer way.  My goal is to complete the journey without having to call out Mountain Rescue, and my planned route could potentially challenge that!

We began by catching the bus back to Cloughton,  where we had left the day before.  This should have been a very easy day of about 8 kilometres, allowing us to reach our destination with daylight to spare.  It wasn't, and we didn't!  

The path initially was very rough, with us having to do a little bit of bush bashing, but then it widened allowing us to make good time, until we hit mud patches.  We laugh now at how careful we were on this first part not to step in the mud.  Little did we know what was to come!

A garden "sculpture"

Bush bashing ...

... until the path widens

Half way though the journey we got to what should have been a forest.  A sign said "STOP - do not go further".  My reaction was they are logging, they are not there today, we can walk through!  How naive.  It took about an hour to fight our way through about 500 metres of mud, branches and tree litter.  We slipped, slithered, got our shoes stuck often, and zig zagged a few metres at a time, before eventually reaching a hole in the wall and escaping to freedom - still wet grass, and waterlogged soil, but no sucking squelching mud!

These photos don't show the deep gutters and mud we had to negotiate!

What we should have paid attention to!

We covered the last 4 kilometres or so in the dark, and were very glad to arrive at our accomodation in Harwood Dale. 

The next day began well, firstly with a lovely cooked breakfast.  The small church just down the road was open and I managed to have a sing, before giving chase to Sharn who was ahead.  We covered, fortunately,  a number of kilometres on quiet back roads before turning to follow the River Derwent to Thornton le Dale.

St Margaret's Church, Howard Dale

Here our luck changed.  I am not sure if it was trail bikes or motor cross bikes - but bikes had well and truly ploughed up the path.  We got stuck in the mud, slipped over in the mud, and gingerly made our way downstream.  

Mud

Fungi on a tree

Sharn nearly left her shoes behind in this patch!

Eventually we crossed fields, watching a magnificent sunset as we went, and breaking out onto a road as dark was settling in.  We were standing there trying to decide whether to follow the path, or walk out to the main road when I heard a surprising sound - a car approaching.  Quick as a flash I put my thumb out, and the decision was made for us.  The man gave us a lift to the main road where we would be able to catch a bus.  On the way he told us that 6 foot snow drifts had blocked the road for 3 days after Storm Bert. Though we didnt know it, Thornton le Dale was a pretty village we discovered in daylight. 

After a good night's sleep, we headed the next day for Malton, a market town.  We had trouble leaving town initially as the path had been changed, but after a chat with a local we were on the right way, through a field with a horse and seven very friendly donkeys.  

The donkeys were VERY friendly, noses in our packs, peering over our shoulder.

St. Francis Church, but securely locked.

It was a day of crossing numerous stiles, and although we covered almost 20 kilometres we saw very little!  We were surrounded by a thick fog for almost the whole day.  We really had no idea what sort of country we were passing through, other than it was farmers fields.  We did meet a few farmers along the way and when we told them where we were headed we heard the same thing "you can go by bus for £2".  It doesn't matter how far you are going, the bus fare is always £2 in this part of the world.

Malton

Christmas decorations are in every town and village now.

Our final day on the White Rose Way was into the city of York, though the path continues on to Leeds, we are now turning South.  We knew we would struggle to reach York, because of the distance, and had planned a few opt-out places.  This was a day of following sealed cycle paths, rarely seeing vehicles, and comparatively easy walking.  Rain was forecast to arrive at 4pm, but it started drizzling a half hour early, and by the time we got to a bus stop and hour later it was torrential. 

Kirkham Abbey

The river at Kirkham

Kirkham Abbey signal box.  Someone is employed to open and close the gates when a train is approaching ....

We have spent an extra day in York because Storm Darragh is creating havoc with wind and rain.  York is a beautiful city, but boy is it busy!  There are people everywhere.  Storm Darragh has thrown a spanner in the works for many though as things like the Christmas markets were closed for safety reasons, as were the walls that go around the city.

The Minster 

York and the Minster from the walls.

A section of the walls

The castle

York

A sculpture in the church of St. Martin-le-Grand.  This church was severely damaged by incendiaries during the war.  It has been restored as a Shrine of Peace and Remembrance.

The German government and the German Evangelical Church gave this organ as a token of reconciliation. 

The stained glass window in the Guildhall

We went to Evensong last night at the Minster.  We were treated to hearing the choir which was splendid, and today while out exploring in the wind and rain we heard a wonderful choir Carol singing.