That’s us, Day 14 on the Coast to Coast Path is a wrap. We walked the 14.5km stretch of gravel track all in the high moors to reach Blakey Ridge. A fantastic day!
We started with an 8am breakfast at the Fox and Hound in Slapewath. A nice little hotel that was quite a ways off the Path so it was odd to not be around Coast to Coasters!
At just after 9am, Ray our private car hire (arranged by Contours Holidays) picked us up and we were zooming back to Clay Bank Top where we left off yesterday. Wow, does a car feel fast when you have only been moving by your own feet for 2 weeks!
By 945am, we were on the trail head and ready to stroll the 14.5km to Blakey Ridge. A bit of an incline to start though the trees, a quick pop over the fence and we were on the stone slabs that would get us to the top of the ridge.
After a short uphill work out and pause to catch our breath, we were at about 370m and that is pretty much where we would stay for the next few hours until we reached Blakey Ridge and The Lion Inn.
The path opened up to a gravel / sand track, that slowly meandered across the moors. We followed this path the whole way – so not tough a job for my navigation skills today!
Spending that much time in the moors with a flat path underfoot meant you could really take a look around at all the different flora and fauna, the colors, just how much the landscape actually changed around us, etc.
So neat to see the rock boundary markers dotting the landscape, and experience a bit more of the Cleveland Way (which continued to overlap much of the Coast to Coast today). We even glimpsed and overlapped the Esk Valley Walk trails, and this area is the Lyke Wake Walk too which follows engraved boundary markers. I am always in awe (and jealous) of the public footpath systems here in the UK. Brilliant!
We understand that much of today’s path is on what was the iron workers railway – used by iron workers and their families exclusively before the motor car and change in industry removed the railway in early 1900. I do not recall seeing any proof of the actual railway history other than how flat and gentle the curves of the path are which would be railroad friendly I am guessing.
A couple of highlights included reaching a trig point (or triangulation station) – a cement triangle at the top of a peak used for navigation and surveying. Hikers love a milestone, so these are always a photo opportunity!
Another big highlight was coming around the last bend in the path, and glimpsing our home away from home for the night – the Lion Inn!
The Lion Inn is ‘a 16th Century free-house located at the highest point of the North York Moors National Park, it stands at an elevation of 1,325 feet and offers breathtaking views over the valleys of Rosedale & Farndale.’ The history of the Inn is very interesting and definitely worth a read if staying here!
I have read a lot about each place we are booked to stay. Helpful things like where it’s located, amenities, directions, etc and also less ‘helpful’ things but so much more interesting … like if they have ghosts!
The Lion Inn has a host of ghosts stories and wasn’t I beyond excited to be handed the keys to Room 5 – the very room that is believed to be most haunted here! Mrs Potts?
Well, maybe it was the long walk in the heat, the couple of pints, a big supper, more likely the fact that my Dad is right across the hall in Room 4 making the little girl in me feel super safe – but no ghostie for me. Boo!
I slept like a comfy little hiker baby. And when I did wake up in the night, I didn’t pick up on a single ghostie vibe. At one point Shar (my roomie tonight) did ask if was ok?! Odd. Now, the ghost in Room 5 is believed to be friendly. Maybe they were just being a good host and letting us get our hiker sleep? Or maybe the thing was standing over me all night …
Only have a sec? I got you …
- Date: Sunday June 29 2025
- Trail: Coast to Coast Path, England
- Day: 14 of 17
- To/From: Clay Bank Top / Blakey Ridge
- Start/Finish time: 945am / 2pm
- Distance: 14.3km (Hiiker)
- Steps: 21,753
- Terrain: small section of forest track and stone slabs/steps then all gravel track in the moors
- Weather: 22C with a slight breeze and a few pretty, whispy clouds
- Breaky: full English / cooked breakfast
- Lunch n Snacks: banana, tuc crackers on trail and then a burger with chips (shared with Shar) at the Lion Inn
- Dinner: beef sandwich and chips(shared with Dad) at The Lion Inn
- Tonight’s home away from home: the one I was MOST excited about, The Lion Inn on Blakey Ridge in believe to be haunted room 5!
- Mood: excited!
- Body: feeling good, all my blister buddies seem to be on a little vacation!
- Highlight: a full day on the moors
- Lowlight: not a tree in sight for just a minute of deep shade
- Deep thoughts: doing the same thing over and over and over again is a comfortable routine but even that can chafe
Well that’s us off on Day 15 – catch you when we reach Egton Bridge in 18.5km.
Brande
runningforthegate 