Castle Hill

This looks like a steep descent, but it's only a short descent before levelling out through the forest on Coate Moor.

An easy stretch across near level moorland, but on this occasion the fierce NW headwind made progress difficult.

A heavily used path that is part of the Cleveland Way and is also the easiest way to the Captain Cook monument from the road. Much less litter [particularly doggy poo bags slung into trees] than on my last visit. No doubt some clearing up by public spirited people.

The relatively small patch of heather moorland around Captain Cook’s Monument has recently been strip mowed. This photo is technically of a strip on Little Ayton Moor, north of the parish boundary wall, but the area surrounding the monument, Easby Moor, also has at least two parallel strips. The moors are technically dry upland heath, a habitat dominated by dwarf shrubs, especially heather. It should support a particular variety of plants and animals, including rare and scarce species of plants, birds and invertebrates. But it has to be maintained to keep it such. On larger areas of moorland which are intensively managed for grouse shooting, a diverse range of heather ages will undoubtably benefit grouse. The chicks need young heather shoots for feeding while nesting in the taller, older heather. This diversity of heather is traditionally achieved by rotational burning, a season which lasts from 1 October to 15 April. It is a process which also damages rough grass, gorse, bracken and species such as bilberries. Anything which does not benefit the grouse. Local extinctions of reptiles, insects and small mammals must be a severe risk. Of course, some birds do benefit from the same environment as maximises grouse numbers: Curlew, Lapwing, Golden Plover and Merlin, and these are often cited by gamekeepers as justification for their management techniques. I guess the aims behind this strip mowing of heather on Little Ayton and Easby moors are two fold. Firstly. to increase diversity of heather age and secondly as a firebreak. I can’t honestly see anyone trying to shoot grouse on Capt. Cook’s Monument so I guess that creation of firebreaks is the main consideration. Firebreaks can provide important habitats for reptiles such as Common Lizards and adders which bask in the open areas which are created. What it shows is that habitats such as upland heath can be achieved by mowing rather than rotational burning.

Monument erected on Easby Moor in memory of local lad, Captain James Cook - the celebrated 18th Century navigator and explorer. The Cleveland Way takes an abrupt right turn at the obelisk, to head due north.

The Cleveland Way takes to dark plantation between Kildale and Roseberry Topping.

The National Trail heading into the forest on Coate Moor

The Cleveland Way runs 110 miles (177 km) between Helmsley and the Brigg at Filey, skirting the North York Moors National Park. Its highest point is at Urra Moor, 1,489 ft (454 m).

Footpath heading for The Captain Cook Monument on Easby Moor

Stone parapets of a small bridge over Mea Beck, north of Ingleby Greenhow. The road is shown as Ingleby Avenue here, but anyone expecting a grand line of limes or sweet chestnuts is likely to be disappointed as the trees and hedges are less than exciting.

The road leads out of this grid square towards Station Farm, some 400m beyond which is Battersby Station.

The path [number 10.75/1] begins as a lane off the nearby road, but soon does a 90 degree turn to the left to approach Drummer Hill Farm.

At the northern end of Ingleby Avenue and with the familiar profile of Roseberry Topping in the distance.

Evidence of some recent timber felling close by the beck, which joins the River Leven a short way downstream.

Sandstone and brick cottages in this hamlet which stands below Easby Moor. Captain Cook's monument is visible on the moor top some 220 m above.

The dead end road that serves this small community heads gently uphill past Grove Farm on the right.

Or maybe it's four as the one on the left appears to be two which are intertwined. The familiar outline of Roseberry Topping to the left of the picture.