Our Wednesday Wander this week started from the National Trust car park at Newton under Roseberry.
Wednesday Wanderings, aka the trail eat my trainer...
Leaving the car park at Newton under Roseberry we followed Roseberry Lane up to the foot of the Topping. Due to the ongoing footpath restoration works taking place we took the path through Newton Wood and ascended via the small shooting hut which sits on level ground as you climb towards the final ascent to Odin's Seat. Built in the late 19th century at the behest of Captain Wilson, a local landowner. It was used by the gentry for picnics and refreshments as they ascended and descended Roseberry Topping.
We climbed up to the trig at the summit via the path on the south side, this is often used by participants in the yearly fell race, although steep it is a quick way to run off
the topping.
After a brief photo shoot we descended via the flagged Cleveland Way path towards Roseberry Common.
Once everyone had returned safely to level ground we headed off across Roseberry Common following the main forest track into Hanging Stone Wood. Once inside the woods the shadows lengthened where the trees were thickest, blocking out the light of the setting sun. An unwanted reminder that daylight hours are getting shorter whilst the hours of darkness are getting longer.
After climbing up through the trees on a minor, but well defined track we joined a forest track which took us to the base of Hanging Stone, aptly named as it clings precariously to the side of the hill, possibly having come to rest there as the glaciers from the last ice age began to retreat around 20,000 years ago. The climb up to the ancient stone is short but technical, following a path which is a jumble of rocks, gnarly roots, bracken and brambles.
We all made it to the top without mishap, where we posed for more photos in celebration of our collective achievement in staying upright. I think Hilary has become our unofficial Wander photographer.
On leaving Hanging Stone our route took us towards Black Nab where we would have joined the Cleveland Way once more, however the trail had other ideas. As we gathered at a junction for a catch up, we heard shrieks and peals of laughter coming from behind us, interspersed with the drawn-out squelching sound of legs and arms being pulled from mud with the consistency of baked treacle and the colouring of Caramac. On tuning around we saw Tracey on all fours trying to extricate herself, without much success, from a mud filled wagon rut in the middle of the track. Of course, we all rushed to her aid...Ok most of us reached for our phones. it soon became apparent that Tracey couldn't get out of the rut and had also lost a trainer in the quagmire.
It was at that point that I ended up to my elbows in brown cloying, foul smelling mud, in what was a pretty good impersonation of a well-known Yorkshire vet, but without the rubber glove.
Eventually after pushing down ever deeper I managed to get my hand under the trainer that Tracey still had on, so eventually with me pushing and Tracey pulling we were able to get her leg out of the mud hole, whilst all around us there was the sound of mobile phone cameras clicking and laughter.
That still left me on the floor nearly up to my shoulder in a clarty mess searching for a trainer. The sucking hole of mud must have been at least 2 feet deep, I do have long arms, but there is a limit to my Gorillaness.... As I was literally getting to the end of my tether, I grabbed onto what felt like the rubber of a shoe. Two or three good heaves later the errant trainer plopped out of the hole with a reluctant squelch. Looking down at myself and over at Tracey I was put in mind of Augustus Gloop dripping in brown stuff, in his case mouthwatering chocolate, in ours smelly unpalatable mud...
From there we trotted over Newton Moor before descending Little Roseberry via the Cleveland Way. We then skirted Othnesbery, another name for Roseberry Topping, and made our way back to the car park. Luckily the toilets were still open...
So after an eventful 6 miles and 1200ft of elevation some of us had a well-earned snifter in The Kings Head.
Until next week, "trot on". 💪🦍
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