Roseberry Topping.
We parked in the car park at the foot of Roseberry Topping, North Yorkshire, its £4 to park all day. We followed the track through the gate, from the car park, into the lane at the base of the hill. We could see where we were heading, so no worries about trying out our navigating skills yet.
This isn’t a difficult hill to walk up, there are different pathways, meandering up to the summit, if you don’t feel like tackling the wooden steps and giving your thighs a bit of a work out. Heading up the lane, you reach a gate at the top, once through there, is the choice of the wooden steps leading you to Roseberry Topping or alternatively, following the pathways into Newton woods.
The woods are quite extensive, with the bluebells just beginning to open out. As Spring progresses, this must be a beautiful walk, surrounded by the bluebells and the trees in leaf once more. The paths are reasonable level, so even toddler legs, could cope with the terrain without any problems.
Its a relatively easy climb, lots of people were tackling the hill, with quite young walkers. The ground was quite soggy underfoot and very muddy. There were loads of dog walkers out in force, Watson the dog, certainly came in handy for some of the steeper sections, but also proved herself, to be somewhat of a liability, with the oozy, slippy walking conditions.
You don’t have to walk up the hill far, to start getting some spectacular views of the North Yorkshire countryside, as well as, the coastline and towns laid out before you.
Plenty of scenic views for picnics and stopping for snacks on the way up. Our picnic was unfortunately joined by a wayward puppy, still learning that its owners frantic shrieking of its name, meant that they really didn’t want him leaping amongst all our tubs of grapes, cheesy straws and sandwiches and trying to snaffle any food item within reach. I love dogs and it was a very cute puppy, but I don’t share my precious coffee with anyone. (huddled over, hands grasped around plastic flask top, muttering “My precious, my precious”) Watson was totally unimpressed with its cuteness or its attempts to bounce around the picnic rug. Any bad behaviour should be her domain only, so with a bit of growling and flashing of teeth, Watson unnerved the puppy enough, that I was able to grab the Tigger like invader and hand him over to the embarrassed owners.
We did this walk in April and there was still loads of patches of snow available, if you are feeling the urge for a wintery, crunchy encounter, beneath your boots.
The views from the top of Roseberry Topping are worth the clamber up. Once we reached the summit, standing to survey the fine prospect spread out before us, we were encouraged, to not remain long. The wind had certainly picked up and it was a tad breezy, to say the least.
From the summit of Roseberry Topping, we were able to see the Captain Cook monument, which was the next destination on our walk. So heading to the opposite side of the hill, we started to descend and join the pathway along the Cleveland Way.
Following the stone steps down the other side of the hill, we walked along the path heading towards the zig zag, which headed upwards, towards the moor and wooded area. The male offspring, did have a bit of a moan at this point, about more walking, but a bit of chivvying and he was soon out in front again, unable to bear the thought of a sibling getting in front of him.
As we walked, the weather began to change, misty, dampness surrounded us and it wasn’t long before it began to rain. It didn’t take much walking, before Roseberry Topping, was in the distance behind us. As we turned onto the moorland, there were large areas, still covered with quite deep snow. We were sheltered by the trees, as we followed the path bordering the stone wall and the woodland.
The rain by this time, was doing its best to persuade the offspring that I was mad or cruel, to drag them out on this walking malarky. The moor was very boggy in places and as we walked along the more exposed parts of the moorland, with the rain lashing us, even Watson the dog, began to think that this walk, was no longer such fun.
We reached the site overlooking Gribdale Gate car park, ahead of us we could see Captain Cook’s monument, still, unfortunately for the offspring, in the distance. As you descend the slope and head across the car park, you enter through a wooden gate, at the edge of the woods. We followed the slightly winding path, added fun provided by the wind blown trees, blocking the path.
By the time we had reached the Captain Cook monument, the rain had turned into proper Bank Holiday type weather. The views were still fantastic, despite the misty conditions, with sideways rain, hampering the ability to see comfortably. Roseberry Topping shrouded in a gloomy, fog across from us.
We headed back down the way we had walked, along the wood land track. To return to the car park, where we had left the car, we could have retraced our route, back across the Cleveland Way and around Roseberry Topping hill, which probably would have been quicker than the way we walked. Instead we decided to go across the cattle grid and follow the road down, until we reached Aireyholme Lane, where we turned right and then walked, till we came to the signs for the public footpaths, leading us back to the woodland, that surrounds Roseberry Topping.
The wood is beautiful and has an absolute abundance of bluebells growing. It’s a beautiful, peaceful walk, although the ground was rather squishy and did have a bit of the children’s book ‘We’re going on a bear hunt’ feel about it. You can keep getting glimpses of the car park buildings, as you wind your way along the woodland path, just above the field edge. Which gave encouragement to the offspring, that the end was in sight.
The walk isn’t difficult, but suitable footwear would be a good idea. It was quite slippy in places and the moorland was decidedly squidgy, at times. Dogs need to be on leads for the moors, as there were nesting birds and in other areas, we past sheep with their newborn lambs. A good day out and a bit of extra mud, to take home.