LIFETIME of WALKS by DEREK HARWOOD

We caught Bus No 840 to Pickering where, to our surprise, the bus didn't travel along the Main Street, so we hurriedly alighted the bus on the Malton A169. It was a short walk into Pickering centre and the train station, the terminus of the 'North Yorkshire Moors Railway'. We caught the train to Goathland, pulled by steam engine No 61994 'The Great Marquess', where we walked into the village passing the Ford police cars 105E, as used in the TV show 'Heartbeat'. We walked down Darnholme Lane to the 'Incline Rail Trail', a steep descent at the start, then levelling out at Beck Hole where we diverted from the trail for the 'Birch Hall Inn' to enjoy a pork pie and a pint of local real ale. We returned to the trail after being suitably refreshed and continued along the old track bed passing 'Blue Ber Wood'. The rain was continuous from the start of the Incline Rail Trail to beyond Blue Ber Wood, where we crossed the River Esk several times on the way to the path alongside the Moors Preserved Railway. At this point, near the railway sheds, the path ascended over the tunnel by the sheds, believed to be the World's first passenger railway tunnel. I'd forgotten about the tunnel so I took the wrong path to the sheds. A quick retrace of our steps for Dennis and I, and as we heard the steam engine 60007 'Sir Nigel Gresley' we quickened our step. We finally got a quick glimpse of the 'A4' going into the sheds. We followed that engine into the sheds through the pedestrian tunnel rather than the main rail track. Our hopes were realised, the 'A4' was manoeuvring itself towards the hopper to refill its tender ready for more duties. We searched the rest of the sheds before returning through the pedestrian tunnel to the station of Grosmont, to board a train, standard 75079 back to Whitby. Another magic day's walking with the boyz.

Location Map: - www.streetmap.co.uk
North Yorkshire Moors Railway

Hazards: None.