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MY STAR RATINGS EXPLAINED:
Places: * - Not worth stopping; ** - things to see; ***
- don't miss
Accommodation & Food: * - I'd find somewhere else; ** - OK; *** I'd definitely stay here again
Explanation of the information about prices and accommodation at bottom of page.
| DAY | PLACES | Notes | miles | total miles | Walk | Stay (for 2) | B&B Review | Food | Food Review | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | *** Arrive HELMSLEY |
Helmsley is a very attractive small town if a bit twee and touristy but there is lots to see and we still haven't been into the Castle. | (approx) | - | The B&B seemed a very long way from the centre when we arrived lugging our heavy bags but we got the walk between Carlton Rd and the centre down to just over five minutes by that evening. |
*** RED ROOFS £70 |
Lovely large room (best of the trip). Good breakfast with good yoghurt and fruit. Interesting genial hosts. | ** The Feathers |
I can't remember much about the evening meal at the Feathers and forgot to keep the bill but we agreed it was nothing special. Price also was middling if I recall aright. We've eaten at The Crown before (also OK - nothing special) and the Black Swan is very expensive, so we'll try the Royal Oak next time we visit Helmsley. | |
| 2 | *** SUTTON BANK |
There's nothing much where we actually stayed next to the Hambleton Inn but the view from Sutton Bank (a mile further on is impressive). We had planned to walk to the White Horse in the afternoon/evening but the weather was too bad so we didn't make it. | 8.5 | 8.5 | It's only about 7.5 miles but we did the half mile each way detour to RIEVAULX *** (don't miss). Expensive (but nice) coffee and cake at Rievaulx. Walking very easy - farmland and riverside - nothing special except a good view of Helmsley if you look back at the start.. We set off in sunshine but arrived in pouring rain. c.5 hours (includes detour). |
** COTE FAW £42 ALTERNATIVE: High House Farm - we tried to get in here but Mrs. Hope was busy. |
Room was a bit cramped as any extra space taken up with additional bed. No en suite but it was cheap and the breakfast was good. | *** Hambleton Inn |
The Hambleton Inn was the surprise of the trip because the food was much better than expected. Highlight was the Ploughmans Lunch and the Soup we had for lunch. We went back for dinner which was not quite as good - lamb cutlets not as succulent as they could be but the other dish was fine and they gave us complimentary garlic bread while we were waiting (we were too full to order a starter or pud). | |
| 3 |
*** OSMOTHERLEY |
Lovely village with a Walkers' shop, Post Office (threatened with closure) and three pubs. | 12 | 20.5 | An easy mostly flat and well-surfaced walk with a steep downhill at the end EXCEPT that we had to navigate SNOW FIELDS at the start and a lot of mud throughout which slowed us down. Weather cold with sleet at start, blue skies and sun at end. c.6.5 hours |
** THREE TUNS £85 |
Pleasant room with spacious bathroom - bath but no shower. Good breakfast. Friendly service. | ** Three Tuns | Very good starters and a lovely summer pudding but the main course - especially the roast lamb could have been better. Usually it is the roast beef that lets the meal down but the beef was OK - the lamb unfortunately was tasteless. | |
| 4 | ** CLAY BANK |
We stayed in the hamlet of
Urra which is about a mile and a half from the
path. I enjoyed the stay but NOT the walk there after a long day and
an exceptionally arduous last few miles with a nasty bit of road walking at
the end. Weather was lovely - a beautiful sunny day although it got a bit windy in the afternoon. Spectacular views and lots of people out today unlike previously. |
12.5 | 33 | This section is labelled as the most strenuous and up to Lord Stones Cafe (about 7.5 miles along the way) it was not too bad at all and we got there at 1:45 (c. 4 hours) BUT the last few miles after that were really hard (three steep hills) and then I lost the main path through The Wainstones and it took us a longer way round and we arrived only just in time for dinner at 7 p.m. | *** MALTKILN HOUSE £79 D&B&B |
Twin Room en suite. Room for all our bags and stuff. Three stars for excellent value. |
Lord Stones Cafe for lunch. Maltkiln House - 3-course dinner in price. |
Sherry, wine with the meal and three courses: lentil soup, beef with vegetables and apple pie, followed by coffee. Kind and interesting hosts. | |
| 5 | *** ROSEBERRY TOPPING. |
14 | 47 | ** THE KINGS HEAD £85 |
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| 6 | SLAPEWORTH | 7 | 54 | ** FOX & HOUNDS |
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| 7 | *** STAITHES |
8.5 | 62.5 | *** ENDEAVOUR RESTAURANT |
Three stars for wonderful food. | We can't remember the details but it was very good - 1st course was halibut; figs with blue cheese and salad; 2nd course: Cod Mousse; Ray.F | ||||
| 8 | REST DAY | Oysters with breadcrumbs, cheese and pancetta covering; Scallops with black pudding | ||||||||
| 9 |
*** WHITBY |
11.5 | 74 | ** Morningside Hotel |
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| 10 | BACK HOME | |||||||||
PRICES:
ALTERNATIVE ACCOMMODATION: