Not Quite Osmotherley Phoenix in Reverse | Saturday 16 February 2020


Walk Leader: Wendy Leete
Participants: 4
Mileage: 17.5 miles
Ascent: 3,600 ft
Walk Register: Yes
Walk Report: Wendy Leete
 
Leaving Osmotherley we headed eastish on the Cleveland Way up to Square Corner.  With the weather on our side.  No sign of the dreaded Storm Denis...thank goodness.  We ambled on the road for approximately 1/4 mile before turning right to make our way past the ruins of Dale Head, over moorland and down to a metal road.  Turning north and once up the hill we snook in-between a walled track to have a light bite and a coffee.
 
The weather was still abating.  Soon traversing over more moorland on a well made track known as Arnsgill Ridge and then crossing Arnsgill beck the track narrowed through old heather.  We ventured on other good tracks passing the impressive Barkers Crag clad in grey (due to the weather), Brian's pond - not good for swimming this time of year, unless you're a duck, up to the old glider station and back onto the Cleveland Way.  At Scugdale we took another break with seats provided by the way of a bench and plastic chairs.  Be thoughtful to re-stack the chairs should you ever have the need to use them.
 
Following the Cleveland Way some more just before we hit Cod Beck Reservoir we took the craggy track above Cod Beck, eventually hitting the Youth Hostel.  The route was simply on the road, back to Osmotherley, from there.
 
Thank you to those that dared to brave the weather...which actually turned out to be a very nice day.....not too much wind, definitely no rain....finished in sunshine.....and not unpleasantly too cold either.


Photos by Wendy Leete