Thursday 15th November 2001
Weather: A beautiful November day
Today's Walk: Bank Foot Farm - Baysdale - Hob Hole - Hograh Moor
( 14 miles )
Part 1: Bank Foot Farm - Baysdale - Hob Hole ( 7 miles )
( A few days later I went into hospital for a couple of operations so I may not be walking far for a while... )
. 
For today's walk, Jim and I were joined by Tom Scott Burns ( above left )
Tom has written
several walker's guide books plus others of a more local
historical nature
- my two particular favourites are 'Round & About the
North York Moors: A Glimpse of the Past' Volumes 1& 2
Tom's knowledge of
the local hills and moors is second to none and it was a pleasure
to listen to his stories
- we learned a lot from him today and look forward to joining him
more on future walks
We began today's
walk at Bank Foot Farm ( Grid Ref: 593 062 ) following the
forestry track uphill
towards Turkey Nab - from halfway up we look south-west towards
the Cleveland Hills escarpment
A bit further on and a view north across Kildale - Captain Cook's Monument is just visible on Easby Moor (top left)
...and from on Battersby Moor another view of the Cleveland Hills
Where the path
meets the Cleveland Way at Grid Ref: 604 062 we continue straight
on along a good track
soon enjoying fine views north-east across Battersby Moor towards
Baysdale and Kildale Moor beyond
Turning left at the
next junction of tracks, we soon arrive at a mass of
irregularly-shaped boulders
known as the Cheese Stones - we sat and enjoyed a cuppa and took
in the stunning views...
. 
...then Tom pointed out several carvings in the rocks - the one above right even has Tom puzzled...
. 
From the Cheese
Stones we set off again towards Middle Head Intake passing
several standing stones and cairns
- Tom reckons the one above may have been simply a 'shepherd's
marker' - other stones lie in a straight line from it
Descending from
Intake Plantation, we enjoy this lovely view as we approach
Baysdale Abbey Farm
built on the original site of a 13th century Cistercian Nunnery
Tom writes,
'Imagine the scene in this wild enclosed ravine in the early
1300's, when numerous cattle
were wintered in the sheltered valley bottom. Baysdale is derived
from Basdale
- recorded in Yorkshire charters of 1189 and 1204 - meaning
'cow-shed valley'
In the Middle Ages,
land rents in Baysdale were paid with the 'heads of wolves'
- so numerous were the beasts in these parts at the time
. 
Nature shows off its autumn colours as we continue along the track, past the farm, and on towards Baysdale valley
We climb steeply up a field, past this barn...
...receiving curious gazes from the local 'residents'
. 
Further along the valley we found a nice spot to eat our lunch among the dead bracken and autumn leaf fall
. 
A little further
on, and Tom points out a grassy mound (above left) near the
stream - he explains that it's the remains of
a 12th century bloomery (an ancient iron furnace) - he kicked a piece of
turf off the surface and soon uncovered
lumps of slag which must have laid there undisturbed for nearly
1000 years
The two gateposts
stand across the beck from a ruined bridge buttress on the
opposite side
- their significance will be explained in the second part of the
walk
. 
Further along
Baysdale Beck we arrive at the local beauty spot of Hob Hole
- we used to bring the kids here picnicking on many occassions
until it became too well-known and popular
( If any photographs fail to download, click the right mouse
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