Sun 30th: Our second walk of the year using the service bus went perfectly to plan, with Nigel leading a 17 strong group from Kirkby Mills back to Pickering via Great Edstone, Marton, Normanby Farms and Middleton Carr:

                                                          

Left to right - the group taking coffee at Great Edstone, nosey sheepdog, group at Middleton Carr and crossing the footbridge near Costa Trout Hatchery.  We were delighted to see more new faces on this 10 mile walk.

Weds 28th: Our website received it's 1000th hit since we went live last October. That's almost 200 hits per month. The web stats show visitors from all over the world including Japan and Iceland as well as the usual locals.  Our profile is now easily found on all the major search engines, hence the increasing number of visitors.

The Tabular Hills webpage has been updated and all dates and details are now fixed. Please check your diaries.

Sun 26th: The 4 Yorkshire villages walk took place today. 17 of us walked from Coxwold to Husthwaite, Carlton Husthwaite, Kilburn, and then back to Coxwold. It was a beautiful spring day for this 12.3 miles walk. Tea was taken at Coxwold Tearooms and the group returned to Pickering just after 5.00pm. Thanks to Nigel for the photographs:

                                                                

Pictures above of the group outside St. Nicholas' Church Husthwaite, a caravan wreck at Angram Grange, the Great War Memorial in Kilburn and the group pictured against the White Horse of Kilburn. Click for a larger image.

Sun 11th: Thank you to Alison who took some great photos (below - click for a larger image) on the walk east of Sleights and Blue Bank yesterday, 10th March. Also thanks to Brenda for leading the group of 12 walkers on a hilly route on such a windy day:

                                                            

                   Group                        Hempsyke Font                 New Members                      Dorothy                      Fallen Trees

                                                                                            Hazel & Doug               Alison Brenda Carol

Phil & Nigel couldn't walk yesterday as they had to complete the MiDAS course at Ryecat HQ in Malton.  Both leaders passed.  This qualification ensures the safety of the group when members use the RYECAT Community Minibus. All is set now for our first outing on the St Cuthbert's Way walking holiday at Easter.

 

Sun 26th: A ten mile walk north of Thornton le Dale with 13 walkers taking part.  Weather kept dry for us and we encountered a stroppy sheep at Lower Kingthorpe who did not want us to walk through his field:

                                                             

       Ellerburn Church              Strop the sheep               Crocuses at Dalby         Group at Kingthorpe

We are also pleased to announce that as well as the discount currently offered to group members at Ryedale Rambler the same discount is now also offered by Wrays Trek & Ski at Helmsley. Please ensure that you produce your RWG membership card when making a purchase.

The walking break to Melrose to walk the St Cuthbert's Way at Easter is fully booked - final details and itinerary have now been sent out to the members taking part.

 

Sun 11th: 16 walkers tackled our Rosedale walk today led by Nigel. 9 miles and 1135 feet of ascent. New walker Ian from Malton was welcomed into the group. Click for a bigger picture if you have broadband - sorry Steve!

Rosedale Pictures

     Coffee break        Old saw table         Little Blakey      Animal Steading        Rosedale             

                                

 

 

 A discussion

The group all enjoyed tea and cake at Rosedale Tearooms before getting back into Pickering at 3.15pm on what turned out to be a fine Sunday. Our next walk is from Thornton le Dale Cemetery on Sunday 25th February.

Thurs 1st: The group have negotiated a members discount with Ryedale Rambler, our local outdoor equipment shop in the Market Place, Pickering. Please ask leaders for further details.

The Sedbergh walking break in October is now fully booked.

Tues 30th: Our final walk for the month and mid-week. 8 miles and an extremely level walk - 113 feet of ascent!

13 walkers turned out on a glorious day of sunshine, including some faces we hadn't seen for some time. It felt more like late March while we sat eating our lunch near Behrens Whin woodland by Normanby Farms. The wildlife spotted amounted to a Hare, Herons and the usual country birds - no sightings of a Woodpecker like on our last walk in the Wolds!

                        Pictures left to right (click on the thumbnail for a bigger picture):

        Hedge where the path should be             The Group                      A badly maintained gate

                                                                                     

It wasn't all good as there are still problems with the landowner around Normanby Farms with blocked gates and no crossing over a ditch where the hedge has been allowed to grow into where the public right of way should be. These issues were highlighted to the Ramblers Association last year and also to North Yorkshire Footpaths Officer to no avail, so another complaint accompanied by photographs will now be sent. I was also disgusted by the amount of litter along the paths at the back of Flamingo Land, so I wrote to Mrs Pamela Anderson, Chairman of Ryedale District Council and the Councillor responsible for that area of Ryedale as soon as I got home. Let us hope that next time we walk that path it has been cleared up.

The success of this walk means that I intend putting at least one decent mid-week day walk into the programme from time to time.

Thank you to all participants for making it a great day out!  Phil

 

Sat 20th: I heard someone say the Wolds were well drained because of the chalk in the ground. Not the case on our 9 mile walk from Kirby Underdale today it was VERY muddy in parts...Sixteen walkers and 1105 ft of ascent - a challenge for some who said the strong winds made it more difficult. Click for a bigger photo....

                                                 

We had a good look round All Saints Church in Kirby Underdale. We took sandwiches, tea and cake in Thixendale Village Hall (Highly recommended and a good fundraiser for the village), and it kept dry all day. Thank you Nigel for a great walk.

Thurs 18th: The autumn break at Sedbergh was full however HF Holidays have increased our room allocation to 19 persons, so we have one twin room available for Sedbergh in October.

Sat 13th: There is now just one twin room available for the October walking break at Sedbergh in October, and there is one single available for St Cuthbert's at Easter. Don't forget to book with Alison if you want to come on the Thixendale walk next weekend... the village hall ladies need to know the numbers and what you want on your sandwiches at lunchtime....

Thurs 11th: The booking threshold for the Sedbergh holiday in October has now been reached so the walking break will now go ahead. We still have a few places left.

Sat 6th: Our misty Bransdale walk was enjoyed by 17 walkers. We only walked 7 miles but the 1350 feet of ascent made it very good exercise. I can certainly feel it in my legs........    Click the thumbnails to see the bigger picture:

                                                                        

Thurs 4th: We have organised an Autumn Walking Break based in the market town of Sedbergh in the Northern Yorkshire Dales. Please see the webpage for full details. Bookings and deposits please to Alison before 4th February 2007. Cheques made payable to Ryedale Walking Group.

Mon 1st: Record turnout on our first walk of the year from Newton on Rawcliffe. 19 walkers enjoyed an easy five mile walk south of Newton. We welcomed new walker John from Hutton Mulgrave Near Whitby, and five ladies on holiday from Ormskirk - Carol, Justine, Elaine, Erica and Michaela. Drinks were enjoyed at the Mucky Duck Newton, and we were home before sunset. A great start to our 2007 walking programme!  

Nigel has confirmed that the booking threshold has been reached to run the St Cuthbert's Way 4 day walking break at Easter, so the trip will go ahead.