This is a log of a variation of the Hambleton Hobble - a rather super circular walk in the Hambleton Hills of North Yorkshire.
As you will see I modified the original Hambleton Hobble route to include Rievaulx Abbey and The White Horse and returning via the picturesque Cleveland Way. As I have messed with the original route I have called it the Hambleton Nobble :)
The Original Hambleton Hobble - 30 miles
The Hambleton Hobble route was originally devised by Paul Sherwood, the official guide and badge can be purchased from the Lyke Wake Club.Smartphone Map GPX/GPS
The GPS Map that you can use on your smartphone is available here for download : http://my.viewranger.com/route/details/NzY1MDM%3D
As you can see on the map above the route sits between two Youth hostels - so you could split the route into two days if you like.
The Hambleton Nobble - 35 miles
Smartphone Map GPX/GPS
The GPS Map that you can use on your smartphone is available here for download : http://my.viewranger.com/route/details/NzY4Nzg=Route description
As a 5 mile longer variation I nobbled the walk to include Rievaulx Abbey which is a great location for a lunch break, and then extended the walk south to the Kilburn White Horse just south of Sutton Bank. I hope you like this variation as it seemed a shame to me not to include these iconic landmarks when we would be so close to them. On the return north from the White Horse I changed the route to use the Cleveland Way and remain on the prominent ridge where I hoped the evening views should be super duper.
Here is a map of the Hambleton Nobble :
Monday 26th October 2015
Here we go then, lets get walking ... !
6:45 AM
Leaving the car at Osmotherley we left the village just as dawn broke, and we were quickly into bracken and open moorlands. We follow the original Hobble route in the morning, meandering along peaceful but bleak terrain. Along some pretty tough going deep heather moors with very little or no discernable footpath in places. GPS was useful amongst the moorland.
Today I am out with a walking friend I admire - Howard. Howard is a great walker and steams along at a great pace. I don't know many people that will venture out on long distance walks - and Howard's fitness is a tad under-challenged by some of the walking groups we both attend - so we planned this day out together to give Howard a taste of a longer walk and some great company for me.
9:45 AM
We were blessed with a glory of autumn colors on the route. We would have been somewhat quicker if I hadn't kept stopping to take some snaps - but I couldn't resist !
We found some impressive Christmas Tree plantations - and thought how much work it must be for the owner to decorate them all!
My Nikon digital camera is pretty old now, made in 2002, thankfully though it managed to bring home some OK images - although in reality it was far prettier.
10:30 AM
I am really not keen on walking through livestock - but Howard has some experience of working with these great creatures - and taught me a few things - especially to stay clear of a mother and calf. Can you spot the shy creature?
10:45 AM
Great picture of Howard I think!
10:50 AM
A super duper dream house we passed called Arden Hall
If I was on my own I would most likely avoid this gathering of beasts via some adjoining fields. Howard however confidently told them to 'go on' and they moved off out of his way.
Footpaths have become alot more distinct than this mornings moorland crossings.
On our way to Dale Town the rolling valleys here are beautiful - in my opinion at least. We are now around three quarters of the way to Rievaulx Abbey.
12:15 PM
Now this big beast is one to stay well clear of - avoiding the field completely is probably the best idea.
1:15 PM
Some rather lovely stonework - could this be monk-ey business?
1:20 PM
Rievaulx Abbey comes into sight
1:45 PM
There is a hot drink and cake van in the car park at Rievaulx.
We didn't buy an entrance ticket and no one challenged us - good job as it would be £6 each if you had a car with you.
2:10 PM
From Rievaulx we then head for the Cleveland Way - this makes navigation easy from now on and we are on super well maintained footpaths.
2:35 PM
Howard spotted the way these stepping stone blocks had been masoned to nicely break the waters flow. Clever those monks you know.
I just love this photo! The fir trees around this glade were enormous.
3:10 PM
We reached the village of Cold Kirby - many of the houses here date from the 17th century
Here we come across an honesty box with a supply of chocolate covered flap jack. I first came across this type of thing on the coast to coast route - what a great idea - so I just had to try it out - and yes it really was great flapjack and that spurred me onward, as yet we were not half way.
A great sight now before us - that of Sutton Bank and beyond.
The vista just explodes in front of us as the Hambleton Hills on which we stand drop away to vast open plains.
The White Horse of Kilburn
"The village schoolmaster, John Hodgson, and helpers did the work. He marked out the figure of a horse on a hillside high above the village. A team of thirty-one volunteers did the actual cutting. When the shape of the Horse was complete, they deposited 6 tons of lime on the naturally greyish rock beneath to whiten it."
These are his ears :)
I am standing on his eye, sorry horse.
Now we have the great pleasure of following the Cleveland Way route all along the edge of the Hambleton Hills back to the start at Osmotherley.
Time for the sun to leave us.
We walked the last two hours of the walk in full moonlight - only needing torches when the moon was covered by cloud.
A total of 35.1 miles covered and my legs ached from the two fifties of the previous two weekends - but Howard was on top form with no aches at all and ready for more!
A couple of drinks in the Golden Lion pub and home we go.
The Hambleton Nobble was a super walk with interest and super views from the Hambleton Hills. It is a fairly long one but the elevation is not too strenuous at all. Highly recommended.
Thankyou for reading, please leave a comment for me below, it would be super great to hear from you :)
Links:
LDWA Route information
Lykewake Company - to purchase the cloth badge
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