The weather forecast Sunday was for rain and thunder and Sam put out an email to warn everyone about the possibility but Graham and I had decided to walk this weekend so walk we would - even though there was a apparent risk of death by lightening strike on the Cleveland Way...However, Sam's warning served as an effective deterrent for everyone else except us so there were just three of us setting off from Kepwick VH carpark. This was a trip down memory lane for me as I seem to think one of the first walks I ever did with the SOC was lead by Frank Broughton from Kepwick - there was a much bigger group that day including Arthur [my dear departed dog] and, I think Bernie, or someone else with a poodle that day. At the time, I knew no one in the group so the introductions were lovely. Anyway, enough of yester year to last weekend. As is often the case with weather forecasts, we had spendid walking weather and started off with a moderate climb up to join the Cleveland Way. For those of us, boasting here, who managed the Inca Trail 8 weeks ago, this was a walk in the park - the North York Moors National Park that is! We walked up Pen Hill and Gallow Hill and along the edge of Boltby Forest onto the Cleveland Way path. We opted for a combined early luncheon coffee break and found the perfect spot to dine, sheltered on all sides from the light breeze and our coats remained firmly in backpacks as a result of the warm sunshine. After lunch, Sam took us on a magical hike into Thorodale which is one of those 'little' green dales that one so often walks past on SOC hikes in the Dales, that look beautiful and unspoilt but have no paths into or out of them. Thorodale has both and a bijou little tarn at the bottom as well that is not visible from above on the main path. After climbing out of Thorodale we completed a figure of eight back to the CW and thence downhill to return to Kepwick going past the slightly weird gatehouse of the Hall which is a holiday rental. The garden is bedecked with plastic fairies and gnomes and all the gaudy flowers decorating the cottage are artificial. Slightly spooky. Thank you Sam for leading the foolhardy two on a lovely walk - the craic was good!
Jane McLennan