A Walk for Patsy, Sarah and everyone with MS.Danby Wiske, Oaktree Hill, Harlsey Grove Farm, Longlands, Ingleby Arncliffe, Ingleby Cross and Osmotherley.
Wainwright
'What are more usually referred to as walkers' rights of way are public footpaths and bridleways over private land. Such rights may be legally provided in title deeds or they may simply have developed by the tread of feet over a period so long that "the memory of man runneth not the contrary".
Where rights of way do exist it is incumbent on the owner or tenant to permit through access by means of stiles or gates and keep the route free from hazard. Where a public footpath is in general use these conditions are invariably observed, but where little or no use is made of rights of way by the public there is a natural tendency to disregard their existence and cease to maintain them. This happens frequently in the section from Richmond to Ingleby Cross, where the footpaths are not only invisible on the ground but often blocked by obstructions, including bulls.'
This is country at the centre of battles between Wainwright and landowners over rights of access. Our feet suffer from Wainwrights defeats as much of today is along roads and hard track diversions established by local farmers. We are both suffering today as the accumulated tiredness hits our limbs and the pounding on the roads accentuates our fatigue. We see remnants of the battles fought as we cross some stiles that have barbed wire wound round the posts walkers will use when grabbing support as they swing over their legs.
Many a hand must get cut as a result. At Harlsey Grove farm we meet the current farmer who is looking for a water main he put in the ground in 1985. A very agreeable farmer who talks amiably with Rob who asks him about what he thinks of Coast to Coasters. 'No problems' he says 'been here since 85 and no trouble at all. There was in the past mind as previous owner didn't like walkers going in front of the farm and managed to reroute the walkers path via road and track away from the farm'. Hence Wainwright quote above and this is one he lost.
Rob's creativity is working overtime today as we get through this last 11 miles of flat uninteresting land on our way to the Moors. He is determined to grab our readers interest before the natural delights of the Moors coming over the next two days. See if you can work out what this is.
Rob is also back with the cows and in deep conversation with them as he positions them for a pose.
Our last mile or so takes up our first hill in 24 miles and along an intersection with the Cleveland Way. It is good to be climbing again as interest in the terrain returns and we can look down and back on the flat lands behind us from where we have come. We feel it more than the hills on the first few days as the track is hard and tests our stamina.
On the way up we catch up with Jim the 71 year old from Devon we met after Rosthwaite. Jim is doing great and loving the walk. John O Grotes to Lands End fame Steve is higher up waiting for Jim. We are both impressed as we feel the tiredness in our limbs and wonder if we will be as impressive as Jim when we are 71 and able to take on a challenge like this as well as he is.We descend in to Osmotherley which is a delightful little village with lots of pretty cottages and one of those village squares that appears in period films and costume dramas.
Most importantly it has Sky and ESPN football so we can watch football all afternoon as we rest our weary limbs in preparation for the Moors tomorrow. Our thoughts are about the need to push ourselves on through any tiredness we feel on our way to the next stop. We hope our researchers are doing the same and working hard on pushing through the obstacles that get in their way on to the treatment we want for Patsy, Sarah and everyone with MS.
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