Jo’s Monday walk : Sheepwash and the Moors

Got any sheep you want washing? Here's the place!

Got any sheep you need washing? This is the place!

And now, as they say, for something completely different.  In more senses than one because some of you will know that this isn’t the walk I originally intended taking you on this week. Fortunately, I have walks to spare!  I’ll tell you the story first, before we head to Sheepwash.

Last Monday I was at Carlton-in-Cleveland with my walking friends.  The area is pretty steep and, as it half-promised to be a warm day, I decided to take water with me in my newly acquired, hands-free, sling over the shoulder, cool bag.  Foolishly I slipped my camera inside, without any cover or protection.  When I came to extract it an hour later, it felt a little moist.  Keen to get snapping, I gave it a swift rub with a tissue and off I went.  The brave and obedient camera performed as usual for the first few shots, then suddenly it ‘locked up’.  When I looked at it properly, the screen was all misted.  The poor soul had drowned!

In these kind of circumstances (yes, I am pretty careless!) I normally hand the camera to Michael, and with a bit of ‘tutting’ he resuscitates it.  Not this time!  We took turns at snuggling it in our pockets, hoping to dry it out and breathe new life into it.  Quite understandably, the camera refused to respond.  I have to say that it ruined my walk, through magnificent countryside, but just maybe I’ve been taught a lesson.  With love and affection (and a warm seat on the radiator) the camera finally came back to life the following day.  Will I ever learn!

I hope you like my substitute walk, from Sheepwash.  I haven’t ever actually seen a sheep being washed in the stream, but that is where the name derives from.  Cod Beck is a small tributary of the River Swale and the picturesque area known as Sheepwash is a popular picnic spot.

The National Trust has its priorities right in this area!

The National Trust has its priorities right in this area!

As the walkers set off, I crouched in the grass to inspect this little beauty

As the walkers set off, I crouched in the grass to inspect this little beauty

Soon we are climbing up the hillside, away from the road

Soon we are climbing up the hillside, away from the road

The countryside drops away below us

The countryside falls away below us

And we're walking on the Cleveland Way

And we’re walking on the Cleveland Way

Sheepwash is situated just outside the pretty North Yorkshire village of Osmotherley.  From the village centre, take North End and continue on to Quarry Lane, passing Cod Beck reservoir on the way.  There are a couple of parking bays, just beyond Sheepwash.

North Yorkshire is a superb place for walking.  The Lyke Wake Walk starts on the moors above Osmotherley and ends down the coast at Ravenscar.  Bill Cowley, a local farmer, claimed that you could walk these 40 miles on heather all the way, except for crossing a couple of roads.  For me, there is no finer sight than the vast sweep of purple heather in Summer.  Osmotherley is also on the 110 mile long Cleveland Way, from Helmsley to Filey, just skirting the Moors.

A solitary sheep keeps his distance across the field- no sheep wash for him!

A solitary sheep keeps his distance across the field- no sheep wash for him!

The waymarked trail leads off across the moors

The waymarked trail leads off across the moors

With runnels to help the rains to drain away

With runnels to help the rains to drain away

And interesting whorls beneath your feet

The grasses a tapestry of colours

A tree, braving the elements, alone

It’s a bit of a steep haul up the trail but you can always stop to admire the view.  A bench awaits for the weary, or you can continue on through the gate, and turn left.  It’s downhill from here.

The resting place

The gate at the top of the hill

The name says it all.  That’s Michael, caught on the phone, in the background

The path drops back down towards Quarry Lane, with views over Cod Beck reservoir, our next destination.  Cross straight over the road and take the path down to your right.  There’s a caravan park at the bottom which always looks inviting, but we continue over the bridge and then left through the trees, which brings you out at the reservoir.  But first, the waterfall!

I always pause to look at the waterfall on Cod Beck

Cod Beck chuckles as it races down the steps

Two shiny red canoes! A rarity at the reservoir

Two shiny red canoes! A rarity at the reservoir

Today they have company- it's a school trip

Today they have company- it’s a school trip

But the goslings don't mind

But the goslings don’t appear to mind

The gorse is plentiful too

The gorse is plentiful too

With just a few mallows at the water's edge

With just a few mallows at the water’s edge

Walking the length of the reservoir will bring you back to Sheepwash.  Maybe you’ll stop for a picnic, or return to Osmotherley for something more substantial at one of the village’s three pubs. It depends a little on the weather.  Today was perfect!

I hope you enjoyed walking with me.  I like a bit of company so if you have a walk you’d like to share, please do join in.  All you need to do is leave a link in the Comments below this post, or if you prefer, link to any of my walks from your own post.  Normally I will round all the links up and post them at the bottom of next week’s walk, so everyone gets a chance to see them.  Next Monday I’ll be in the Algarve and I won’t have any technical stuff with me (just the camera, if I’m lucky!) so there’ll be no walk posted.  Sorry!  I’ll try to add your links to this week’s post before I go, but any I miss I’ll add to the following week.

I already have a superb selection of walks from last week, so put the kettle on and let’s go armchair walking!  First we have Paula, at lovely Lake Lugano :

http://bopaula.wordpress.com/2014/05/26/a-walk-around-a-lake-for-jo/

Then Sue, slightly crazy in Calgary! :

http://traveltalesoflife.com/2014/05/26/hazards-of-spring-running-beavers-geese-and-killer-bunnies/

And Drake, in the serenity of Samso :

http://ledrakenoir.wordpress.com/2014/05/27/sunshine-walking/

Cardinal is in Jerusalem- a place I’d love to visit! :

http://artishorseshit.wordpress.com/2014/05/26/elephant-0987/

http://cardinalguzman.wordpress.com/2014/06/02/follow-the-arrow/

Beautiful and British, stately homes with Elaine :

http://elainemcnulty.wordpress.com/2014/05/27/woburn-abbey-deer-park-and-gardens/

Pauline takes us ‘down under’ :

http://pommepal.wordpress.com/2014/05/27/mullewa-meander-walking-with-jo/

And Jude, in leafy green Ludlow :

http://smallbluegreenwords.wordpress.com/2014/05/28/priors-halton-loop/

And from this week’s walkers, we have Paula again, feeling energetic in London, this time :

http://bopaula.wordpress.com/2014/06/02/first-impressions-of-london/

And Drake is taking me to the cemetery.  But don’t worry, it’s by a lovely route! :

http://ledrakenoir.wordpress.com/2014/06/02/the-shade-of-the-history/

If you’ve ever wanted to see the fabulous Lost gardens of Heligan, Jude has the shots!  :

http://smallbluegreenflowers.wordpress.com/2014/06/02/garden-portrait-the-lost-gardens-of-heligan-part-i/

I’m blessed this week.  My travelling Australian friend, Christine, has joined in from the Alpujarras in Spain  :

http://dadirridreaming.wordpress.com/2014/06/03/walk-around-berchules/

Yvette can tell you all about olive oil! :

http://priorhouse.wordpress.com/2014/06/03/monday-walk-with-jo-olive-oil-and-flower-walk-by/

And wow!  I am so honoured.  Madhu has been walking in Bologna, in the rain too!  :

http://theurgetowander.com/2014/06/02/bologna-a-walk-in-the-rain/

 

Happy walking folks!  Take care till next time.

135 comments

      1. Sunshine, cloud, a bit of drizzle but a lovely evening. We are just setting out for dinner now. Had a great day walking around Grasmere. Tired feet though 🙂

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  6. Pingback: Follow the Arrow | Cardinal Guzman

  7. A top of the world kind of walk, Jo. Lovely. And I did so feel for you, too, over the camera, and so glad it survived. I killed my first one by having it in my bag with a pot of pickled herrings from the local deli. There was no way back from a dunking in sticky, fishy vinegar. The second one fell out of my bag in a taxi in Toronto. It’s the reason why I now have a very cheap Kodak Easyshare, which is actually rather good, though a little battered. I love your Monday walks page. Exercising vicariously.

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    1. Thanks a lot, Tish! You sound even more accident prone than me 🙂 Mine is just a Canon digital- not expensive but I don’t want to have to replace it.

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  8. Pingback: The shade of the history | Le Drake Noir

  10. It’s good that the camera came back to life! My camera once fell off a chair to the floor. It was in a bag, but it wasn’t an official, brand bag. It got ruined from that small fall and it cost me a lot to fix it. After that all my cameras are in real camera bags with lots of protection!

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  11. What a resilient camera! I bet it’s looking forward to a holiday on the Algarve too – just don’t cover it with sun creme too 😉 I enjoyed this Monday morning walk, and I’ll bear it in mind next time I have a sheep to wash.

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  12. No walking for me right now. Merely a hop to the loo my darling. But in the past I’ve done parts of both walks. We set off to do the Cleveland Way in its entirety but on the second day, Partner, in a rush for refreshments on a Sunday afternoon before 3am (before all day opening) – sprained his ankle. On another section of it one of our dogs helped himself to some walkers’ sandwiches. We beat a hasty retreat.

    Enjoy Portugal Jo. Should be very nice and warm for you. Don’t come to Gib – I won’t be able to meet you!

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  15. Pingback: First Impressions of London | Lost in Translation

  17. This is just what I need to start my week Jo. You take us to most beautiful walks. Happy to hear you managed to resuscitate your camera. Btw, I would really like to see a sheep getting a wash :D. Now, I will link to you. xx

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  19. Superb photos Joe and looks like a great walk too. I walked a bit around this area in the past – I remember doing the Lyke Wake Walk once – but after looking at your pics I will have to do some more.

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