Walk Summary
An out-and-back walk along the start of the Lyke Wake Walk. Fine views from the edge of the moors. Some pleasant woodland walking. Visits a 3,000 year old Bronze Age burial mound.
Date: 15/01/2023
Length: 9.58 miles
Height Gain: 444 m
Terrain: Rocky tracks, muddy tracks, grassy tracks, slabs, stone steps, landrover tracks, national trail, woodland, trails, lightly used roads
Navigation: Map/compass and gps required. Most of the walk is on the Cleveland Way which is well signed.
Start: Carpark At North End Of Cod Beck Reservoir, Beacon Hill,
Route: Carpark At North End Of Cod Beck Reservoir, Cod Beck Reservoir, Beacon Hill, Huthwaite Green, Round Hill, Live Moor, Round Hill, Huthwaite Green, Beacon Hill, Cod Beck Reservoir
Map: OL26 North York Moors Western Area
Weather: Sunny and frosty
Walkers: Nun
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Lyke Wake Stone
Captain's Log
Lyke Wake Walk
Today's walk would be along the first part of the Lyke Wake Walk (LWW). The LWW is a 42 mile traverse of the North Yorkshire moors. I say 42 mile, but add another 5 mile or so for all the detours on the boggiest parts. The name derives from the 'lyke', the corpse, and the 'wake', watching over the deceased. The route commemorates the many corpses carried over the moors on the old coffin routes, and the ancient burial mounds encountered on the way. In fact, my route today goes up to a bronze age burial mound, high on the moors. Many decades ago I did the LWW in an epic 16 hours. It is the only walk that reduced me to a bout of sobbing. I would have actually shed tears, but I was so dehydrated that the sobs manifested themselves as a death rattles. The walk is usually done from west to east and starts at the Lyke Wake Stone, opposite the car park at Cod Beck reservoir, near Osmotherley. There was no queue to start the LWW, at the stone this morning. Rather than start on the LWW route straight away, I decided to do a short detour first, along the bank of Cod Beck reservoir.
Cleveland Way
The sun was just rising above the trees as I walked alongside the reservoir. After weeks of rain, it looked as though I was going to have some good weather for walking, at last. At the end of the reservoir I headed off across some fields to intercept the Cleveland Way. I stopped near a field full of sheep, and then watched as they all dashed towards me. It seemed a bit odd, they normally run away. I heard a whirr back down the track, and saw a farmer and his dog approaching on an electric truck. The sheep had obviously heard the farmer coming before I did. They were in for a disappointment though, since I could see that the farmer didn't have any food for them. Shortly afterwards, I joined the Cleveland Way. The LWW makes use of the Cleveland Way in its early stages. In fact, it isn't until Urra moor is reached (the highest point on the LWW), that the Cleveland Way strikes northwards, whilst the LWW continues eastwards. Urra moor is miles away though and not on my itinerary today.
Expectant Sheep
Cleveland Way
Stream Near Huthwaite Green
Woodland Trails
The Cleveland Way follows the edge of the moors and there were extensive views over the flatlands to the east and north. In the far distance to the east, the hills looked a glistening white. The Pennines had obviously caught some snow overnight. To the north I could see the distinctive pointed profile of Roseberry Topping. I could hear the occasional bang down in the valley; the Tweed Trouser Brigade were up to their usual tricks. The path dropped down to Clain Wood. Multiple signs informed me that the wood was private and that I shouldn't stray from the footpath. A couple of Roe deer ignored the signs and dashed alongside me through the trees. They stopped for a while and watched me disappear down the trail. I was on the leeward side of the hill in terms of sunshine, and it was a tad cool. I escaped the trees for a while at Huthwaite Green, a random collection of houses and farms. A couple sat on a bench, near one of the houses, soaking up the sun. I complimented them on finding an excellent sun spot.
Bronze Age Burial Ground
Bronze Age Burial Ground
The Cleveland Way continued up to Round Hill. A cold wind hit me and despite the sun, I felt a bit chilly. The stone track turned into slabs that are so familiar to these moors. On the other side of Round Hill the path approached what looked like a large cairn. A metal plaque on a nearby rock explained that this was a Bronze Age burial mound and...'please don't put any more stones on it'. It was that time of day and I stopped for lunch. Hopefully the mound's residents didn't mind me having my lunch there. My original intention was to continue along the Cleveland Way up to Carlton Moor, but it looked a hill too far for a winter day. Unfortunately, I couldn't make the route circular back to the car, and so I decided to return on my outward route.
Fungii Thriving On Tree
Lyke Wake Coffin
Return
At Huthwaite Green I chatted to a woman walking four dogs. She said that she owned one of the houses at Huthwaite Green and used it as a weekend retreat. She'd thought about using it as a holiday let, but enjoyed staying there herself too much. It was certainly a pretty little valley. Back in Clain Wood, I found a set of bird feeders positioned about 20 metres off the trail. They were well stocked with food too and a multitude of Great and Blue Tits were having a feast. The Cleveland Way was a lot busier now, with many walkers out for a Sunday jaunt. Rather than return along Cod Beck reservoir, I decided to take a more direct route back to the car park across Scarth Wood Moor. In fact, this was the path used by the Lyke Wake Walkers climbing up to the Cleveland Way from the Lyke Wake stone. I didn't meet anybody on the path today though. I suppose it was a bit late in the day for starting the Lyke Wake Walk.
It had been a great walk, made all the more enjoyable by plentiful sun. Maybe one day I'll do the Lyke Wake Walk again. There again, there's no rush.