More Moors…..Day Three

DAY 3 OF HIKING

We woke up this morning to howling winds across the moors and when looking out the window, we saw nothing but racing walls of mist with winds around 18 mph.  Luckily by the time we had finished breakfast, the clouds had broken somewhat and the mist was gone.  It was still a bit fresh though.

Today was promised to be short and relatively flat….ha ha ha!  It was however much like yesterday as far as the scenery is concerned…..moors….moors and more moors!  The morning’s hike was relatively flat as we picked up a dismantled railroad track that stayed on top of the moors, never giving up our high ground.  Today’s challenge was the wind in our faces, a steady 20 mph headwind with 35 mph gusts.  The horizon in front of us just looked like endless moors until suddenly, just before lunch, the moors gave way to an enormous valley below with Middlesbrough and the North Sea visible off to the east.  We stopped for lunch here to enjoy the view, then descended into the valley, only to cross a road and begin climbing back up Clay Bank Top.  We hiked along this ridge for most of the afternoon with its great views across the valley, then descended through a rock formation and through a wooded area to reach our end point for today, The Lord Stones Cafe. We were just in time as a steady rain began as we arrived.  We celebrated the day with a beer and cider at the Cafe, then took a taxi to a nearby village pub for the evening as there were no accommodations on the trail at this point.  

Our pub for the night was fairly basic for accommodations but the food and drinks were very good.


Heading off from our hotel 



Day 3 Selfie.  Not as fresh as Day 1 selfie 

View of the Dale from the Moors

Oreo Cows?  Or maybe Police Cows?

Our snacks for tomorrow’s hike!
Pete on the lookout for a shorter route 

Descending from Claybank Top

Forest Gump waiting for his bus 


View from Claybank Top across the fields to the city of Middlesbrough and the North Sea 



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