A Walk for Patsy, Sarah and everyone with MS.Osmotherly, Huthwaite Green, Live Moor, Carlton Moor, Kirkby Bank, Hasty Bank, Clay Bank Top, Carr Ridge, Urra Moor, Rosedale Ironstone Railway (former track), Farndale Moor and High Blakey Moor.
Wainwright
'The broad expanse of moorland extending for 30 miles from the Vale of Mowbray to the east coast, heatherclad, unenclosed, uninhabited, remote from industry and noise and free from traffic, is a magnificent territory for the walker: open country like the Pennines and the Cheviots yet more handsome and colourful - and friendlier by far.'
Magnificent it certainly is on a scale that takes your breath away. This is one of our most impressive days of walking. Just under 21 miles of walking and as we ascend and descend five fells, hills or as they call them here 'banks' we only go to 1500 feet but in doing so ascend 3540 feet and descend 2800 feet. Thats 6340 feet of upping and downing or one sixth of Everest. The weather is wet, windy and we are grateful for our gear keeping us snug and warm inside.
In the first 14 miles we take on the five 'banks'. Early on we ascend in to the clouds and see heather covered moors reminiscent of the Clwyddian Range on Offa's Dyke. Once again we are up with the gods and discuss our request if they are listening to us. We agree our request of them is a cure for MS and really do hope they are listening to us. That is what we want.
The climbs are steep and slippery. At the top there is some ridge walking and although we are a good ten feet away from the edge it is still uncomfortable as there is a strong wind blowing us towards the drop. As we descend Kirkby Bank I hear a scream from Rob behind and he disappears from view. He was about 50 yards behind and I wait nervously for him to reapper. Eventually his hat bobs up and he is ok. He hit his knee against a sharp outcrop of rock and slipped and now has a bruise but fortunately is safe. 
On Hasty Bank we have far more excitement and some real danger. We approach the famous Wainstones hanging precariously above the edge of the Hasty Bank. I hang back as I can see it is a worrying edge as I looked at the route on our way up. Rob mouflonesque stands for ages on the edge snapping away. Eventually he moves on and does seem to hesitate over which path to take. I let him go ahead and follow and do wonder if we should be going up through the Wainstones. As I follow I notice few footholds and a much more dangerous path than usual. We go round the cliff edge on a peaty, slippy path with a sheer drop below. 
I think this is the wrong path and later discover Rob thought the same but turning round and going back is not an option for Rob as he fears the impact it may have on me and not an option for me as I am following him. The final ascent is up vertically about 15 feet pulling ourselves up by heather and scrambling. I realise later that heather has a very small root and am grateful the plants we grabbed helped us up rather than uprooted and a deathly drop below. Rob says sheepishly 'sorry Len' and I am as confident as I can be he has not taken me on this detour to help me overcome my fears once and for all. We survived it and move on.
The final seven miles of this walk is flat and thanks to an old railway line is easy walking across the moor. Around us are bogs like the Pennine walk last week but they don't trouble us. We can enjoy the views around which are stunning. There are an amazing number of Grouse which seem tame and interested in us as they come up close. They have an distinctive chuckle as they take off and fly around us.
The views are continuous and wonderful even in the heavy rain and strong wind. Eventually appearing out of the mist in the distance is the Lion Inn, the most remote pub in England. Once a monasterial stop off point where bodies were stored on their way to be buried. It is now a large Inn serving food and drink to tourists all around the Moors and a welcome haven for walkers at the end of their long walk.
A wonderful day in which we met nobody and felt very close to nature, its power and the beauty of vistas on a grand scale.
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