THURSDAY, MAY 25, 2017 The Northern Echo 39 Walks what’son Walks , Goldsborough and the coastal path

of which bear slightly left across enclosed grassy path down to reach Walk information the field. As you approach a fence another gate, after which bear across your path, bear up to the left across the rough field passing Distance: 10.25 km (6.4 miles) left (walking alongside the fence on to the left of the grassy remains Time: 3 hours your right) to reach a gate in the of the Roman Signal Station (the far corner of the field. After the highest part of the field) to reach Maps: OS Explorer Sheet OL27 - gate, follow the path to the right a stile near a small wooden barn. always take a map on your walk. skirting around the field, until you After the stile, head down across Parking: Car Park at Sandsend reach a gate on your right. Do not the field to reach another stile just (pay & display) go through the gate, but follow the to the right of a small stone-built Refreshments: Pubs at Sandsend clear grassy track ahead passing chapel and skirt around the chapel and Goldsborough quickly through two gates, with over another stile and onto the a huge old quarry down to your How to get there: Sandsend lies road. Turn right along the road right (Deep Grove Quarry). After along the A174 to the north-west of (take care) into , passing the second gate, bear left across the old Railway Station on your left the field towards a hedge corner, down to reach the cliff-top near to Terrain:Field paths, farm tracks, with Deepgrove Farm ahead of the end of the road, where you turn country lanes and cliff-top paths you. Walk past the hedge corner right along the grassy cliff-top path (). There are steep and go through the gate ahead, of the Cleveland Way (Sandsend 3 descents and ascents into wooded after which carry straight on along miles). Over Dale. the indistinct track to reach a gate Caution: Take care walking along immediately before Deepgrove the cliff-top path - keep to the Farm (signpost ‘Kettleness’). Follow the Cleveland Way path. This walk includes two steep 4cliff-top path straight on (take descents and one steep ascent into care – keep to the path) for 2.8 km Do NOT head through this gate and out of Over Dale. to reach a path junction, with a 2but turn right immediately path off inland towards . before it and walk across the Ignore this path towards Lythe, field to reach a stile beside a gate and continue straight on along the Points of interest in the corner of the field, after clear coastal path for 150 metres Saxon attack to allow the Romans to Saltburn remains open to which carry straight on alongside then follow the path bending to the ANDSEND is a lovely to scramble their cavalry unit at passengers with a freight line the fence/hedge on your left that right (leaving the cliff-top) across village, situated at the end Malton or their naval vessels in the continuing to to service its leads into woodland. The path the top of the field (cliffs and the of a long sweep of sandy Humber or Tyne estuaries. This Potash Mine. now drops steeply down steps in sea away to your left) to reach a beach that stretches all Signal Station would have stood the confines of Over Dale, crosses stile that leads into woodland. A Sthe way to Whitby (hence a footbridge then climbs steeply 30-metres high (100-ft) and was The walk steep path leads down steps again its name). Sandsend has a long defended by a wall and ditch. up again to reach a stile at the into Over Dale, and down to reach end of the woods. After the stile, history of industry dating back Kettleness is perched precariously the old railway line. Turn left and From the road bridge across walk alongside the hedge on your to the Romans who had a cement close to the sea cliffs above the follow the old railway line for 1.5 1Sandsend Beck in the heart of left then, after 300 metres, turn works here and later in the 17th pounding North Sea; in fact, in 1829 km back to Sandsend. As you reach Sandsend, follow the main road left along a clear track. Follow Century alum was mined along a huge landslip caused the entire Sandsend and the private gates (A174) steeply up Lythe Bank out this track straight on (hedge on the coast. Used in the tanning village to crumble away into the sea across the old railway line, take of the village, with views of the your right) for 400 metres to join a process as well as to fix dyes, alum far below; fortunately, the villagers the path that drops down to the attractive assortment of cottages clearer track (at a track junction, was a valuable commodity. The were saved by a passing alum ship. left into the parking area and on to alongside Sandsend Beck to your with Overdale Farm across to your last alum mine closed in 1871 as The village was rebuilt within a reach the starting point at the foot left (note the old parapets of the left). Carry straight on along the cheaper production methods were couple of years, mainly because railway viaduct across the stream of Lythe Bank. discovered. this coastline was such a productive farm track for 650 metres to join a as well as the station at the top of road. Our route heads up across fields area for alum mining; this stretch the bank up to your right). Follow Mark Reid via the deep wooded ravine of of coastline is still severely scarred the road steeply up for 300 metres Over Dale to reach the windswept by tips and spoil heaps especially then, at the bench just before Turn right and follow the road hamlet of Goldsborough which, around Kettleness Point. the National 3(take care) into Goldsborough. TeamWalking despite being less than half a The final part of this walk follows sign (over to your left), follow the At the road junction in the centre Hill Skills & Outdoor mile from the North Sea, is about the old track-bed of the Whitby to footpath to the right through a of Goldsborough, follow the road Adventures with Mark Reid 500-ft above it! Just to the north of railway line, which kissing-gate, with superb views straight on towards ‘Kettleness’ Goldsborough are the overgrown was built in 1883. Once one of the of the sweeping bay and Whitby then, just after the last building remains of a Roman Signal Station, most scenic railway journeys in Abbey in the distance. The path on the right, turn right along the Unique corporate activity days, built in the 4th Century as part , the line was difficult to heads straight on alongside a fence track (signpost) into the farmyard navigation skills and team building of a string of stations along this maintain due to coastal erosion on your left for a short distance (passing between farm buildings) experiences in the great outdoors. part of the coastline to provide an and was closed in 1958, although then along a fence on your right up to reach a gate beyond the teamwalking.co.uk early warning system of invading the section from Middlesbrough to the top of the bank, at the top buildings. After the gate, follow the

Birdwatch By Ian Kerr

HE great run of rare species once in Durham and then a couple breeder, was a superb red-necked have been found in the Sutton around Kielder Reservoir. Once has continued with more of years ago in Cumbria. It would phalarope which lingered Bank area. again this season there is no sign T really good birds turning up around Grindon Lough in west be nice to think this latest bird There has been a scattering of of other very suitable localities, across the region, to everyone’s could meet up with another and Northumberland. That rather ospreys across the region. Singles including Derwent Reservoir, delight. Again, southern bleak and upland site in the decide to stay. It’s unlikely but not, were seen in three areas of North attracting breeding pairs. European species provided the Roman Wall country has a as previous experience has shown, with birds passing over highlights with a scattering of reputation for attracting some of The only other raptor of note absolutely impossible. Burniston, Ripon and Hawnby. some very colourful visitors. the few phalaropes which ever over the past few days was a Another very colourful visitor turn up in the region. Another seemed well settled at honey buzzard which drifted over The most exotic was a bee-eater, was a hoopoe at Ravenscar. Last Lindisfarne where, as usual, the pictured, Europe’s brightest and Among larger species were Boldon Flats where a spoonbill week I mentioned sightings in poles which mark the Pilgrims’ was another local attraction. most colourful bird, which turned three coastal areas of another three common cranes which Way across the flats provided it up over Long Nab at Burniston southern wanderer, a red-rumped were seen over both Wynyard with a handy feeding spot. with a group of swifts. Every year and Cowpen Bewley. Among rare swallow. This week it was the turn we are lucky enough in the region waders, diminutive Temminck’s These wandering ospreys will of inland Durham with a bird to get a few of these stunning, fast- stints were an attraction at both almost certainly be immature flying birds which, as their name watched hawking for insects over Saltholme and Castle Island in summering birds. The four pairs suggests, specialise in taking large Rainton Meadows. Northumberland. Last week I which makeup our own small insects, not just bees and wasps. From an entirely different mentioned the rarity these days of breeding population are all now The species has bred in the region, direction, this time an Arctic turtle doves. This week up to three busy incubating their eggs at sites