Wednesday 12th July 2017Ingleby Cross (100M) to Blakey Ridge (400M). Distance 20 miles - Strenuous - Height Gain 970m/3190ft - 8.5 hours

A rollercoaster day. We walk up the forest trail and join the Cleveland Way. The route descends into Scugdale (100M). Not keen to stay low the path climbs steadily at first then steeply onto Gold Hill (315M). It continues onto Carlton Moor (408M) before descending to Green Bank (300M). Once again it climbs going over Cringle Moor (430M), descends to 280M back up to 400M, down again to 300M and then a final climb through the Wainstones onto Hasty Bank (398M) before descending to the road at Clay Bank Top (250M). If all the up and down seems like too much hard work there is a path that contours round the hills from Green Bank to Clay Bank. A final steep ascent to Carr Ridge (390M) is followed by a gradual rise to the summit of Round Hill (454M), the highest point on the North York Moors. The path descends to Bloworth Crossing (400M) were it leaves the Cleveland Way and continues on an almost level disused railway line across the desolate moors to the remote Lion Inn on Blakey Ridge.

• At Green Bank is the Lord Stones café, which is built into the hillside.

• The North York Moors are covered in purple heather during late summer months.

• Iron Ore has been mined for centuries from the Cleveland Hills. In 1861 rail tracks were laid across the moors to increase mining capacity. In the early 1900’s demand dropped and the railway was dismantled in 1929.

• 08:30 start from Ingleby Cross.

• Arrive Lion Inn 17:00