Faber's Stone

The OS map had optimistically labelled my route on to the moor as Solomon's Lane (Track). In my dreams I'd expected a flat landrover track, but in reality, it was trackless moor. I could see what looked like a better track, a few hundred metres further on. I headed for it, trying to avoid the worst of the bog and the ankle turning clumps of heather and grass. It was with some relief that I finally reached the track and easier ground. I was now on Osmotherley Moor and it seemed very flat.  I have to confess that it didn't look very interesting. The only protrusion in this sea of heather was a rounded lump to the south, called Hambleton End. 

The landrover track turned into a path, then into a sketchy track, and then disappeared altogether. I could see from the OS map that I wasn't far from an intersection with another landrover track that would take me to the northeast. As I continued onwards, I noticed another walker coming across the moors to my right. We were on a collision course, and I presumed he was on the landrover track that I wanted. He reached our crossroads about twenty seconds before me. There was no wave of greeting or nod of acknowledgement from him. How odd. All this wilderness and no recognition to a fellow wanderer.  He marched off along the track and I followed in his wake. I stopped to inspect a boundary stone a few metres off the track. A newer boundary stone stands as a neighbour to the original boundary stone and has Faber's Stone inscribed on it. Inspection completed I made my way back to the landrover track and continued my pursuit of the mysterious walker.

Nelson Stone

'Good morning!' I said brightly. 'Nyaa,' I got in reply. 'It's a lovely day,' I offered. 'Nyaa,' I received in return. My mysterious walker was seated on the ground leaning against the wall of a shooting hut. I thought about coaxing him into a more extensive conversation by asking him an open question, but I suspected I'd get a similar response. He only seemed to have a bottle of water and a book with him. He had the look of an Estate worker about him. Maybe he was on the lookout for cyclists or people walking their dogs. I'd seen a few signs saying neither were welcome on the moor. I wandered over to a nearby dual boundary stone combo. Similar to the Faber's Stone, a more modern stone was stood next to the original boundary stone. This one had Nelson Stone chiselled on it. I made my way back to the track and I continued on my way. As I left, I waved to my mysterious friend. He either didn't see my wave or chose to ignore it.

Just after the shooting hut I turned on to another landrover track that ran northwards. To the northeast I could see a large hill that was Carlton Moor. I'd been to the top of that on my previous day's walk (see World Of Wain). 

A little later I saw a young woman approaching along the track in the opposite direction. As she got closer, I could see that she was wearing farming, rather than walking attire. She was even wearing wellies. Her face was flushed red, and she gave me a shy greeting as we passed by. How odd, that she was so far out on the moors with no rucksack and shod with rubber wellies. How mysterious. And then it suddenly clicked! I put two and two together. She was obviously on her way to a clandestine meeting with my mysterious friend at the shooting hut. They were illicit lovers! It all made sense now. They were both a bit coy in case I was a local to the area and recognised them. I'm glad I resolved the mystery. Of course, some of the redness in her face may have been due to her feet overheating in her wellies.

Return To Cod Beck Reservoir

I reached a forestry plantation and then followed a landrover track that ran north westwards along its edge. It was getting a bit more populated now. A large rambling group passed me and then a lone walker who seemed unable to drag his face away from his phone. I'm not sure whether he was using it as a gps or was using some other app, but he never looked up during the 100 metres of his approach. The track eventually descended into a pretty valley and then reached the road. The car park was now crowded with cars and people. It is certainly a popular location. Across the road I could see the stone that marked the start of the 40 mile Lyke Wake Walk. That brought back memories, few of them pleasant.

Today's walk had been pleasant though. The moorland landscape was quite flat and did lack interest to some extent. My inadvertent intrusion on a secret romance provided some entertainment.