DAY 4 - LORD STONE CAFE TO OAK TREE HILL (Northallerton)

DAY 4 HIKE

We awoke to rain this morning . . not a great sign but we were prepared with all our rain gear.  Setting off from the Lord Stones Cafe we climbed a steep hill.  Half way up the hill of course the rain stopped, and we quickly stripped off all the hot rain gear.  Once up on the hill we hiked along the top of the ridge looking out over the valley.  Our elevation was high enough that we could still catch glimpses of the North Sea and Middlesborough although we expect this is the last day we will. We then dipped down through a forested area for several miles and eventually caught a downpour that moved in from the sea.  We found a woodshed for shelter, then suited up and headed into the the rain.  That was the last of the rain for us today as the sun came out in the afternoon and from then on we had sunshine and cool breezes.

The scenery in the afternoon was mainly farmland as we crossed one farm after another heading for our destination at Oak Tree Hill.  It was a fairly long day hiking 16 miles, 38,000 steps and ascents around 1,200 feet.  We stayed in Northallerton tonight at the Golden Lion Inn, a medium sized, pub style hotel.  Tomorrow will be another long day into Richmond so off to bed early tonight.

Top of our first climb this morning 

Heather and Shelagh selfie at the top of the first climb

Looking down on the plains to Middlesborough again.  Day 4 and we’re still getting glimpses of the North Sea from the high elevations.

Shelagh, Cathy, Pete and Alisdair, an old college friend of Pete’s who decided to join us for the day.


Fields of clover are replacing the heather now that the elevations are lower and we have left the Moors behind.


Iron Age Tombstones




The rain was chasing us all day . . and sometimes catching us.

Sign self-explanatory!!


 

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