North York Moors Walks
Urra Moor & Hasty Bank
Date: 8th April 2006
Distance: 10 miles
Ascent: 1770 feet
Time: 5 hours 25 minutes
With: Lisa
Start Grid Ref: NZ571035
Walk Summary:
A fine walk to the top of Urra Moor, the highest point of the North York Moors, followed by a pleasant amble over Cold Moor and a visit to the Wain Stones.
Route Summary: Clay Bank Top - Carr Ridge - Urra Moor - Medd Crag - Seave Green - Cold Moor Lane - Cold Moor - Wain Stones - Hasty Bank - Clay Bank Top
Pictures:
1. Looking back at Hasty Bank from the route on to Urra Moor
2. A boundary stone on Urra Moor
3. Carlton Moor, Cringle Moor, Cold Moor and Hasty Bank
4. By the trig point on Round Hill, the highest point of Urra Moor
5. Looking across Bilsdale to Bilsdale West Moor
6. Cold Moor
7. Looking back across Bilsdale towards Urra Moor
8. Hasty Bank and beyond to Roseberry Topping
9. Lisa heading north along Cold Moor
10. Hasty Bank and the Wain Stones from Cold Moor
11. By the summit cairn on Cold Moor
12. Hasty Bank
13. The Wain Stones
14. Looking back at Cold Moor from the Wain Stones
15. Lisa climbing up amongst the Wain Stones
16. On Hasty Bank
Walk Detail: The weather was forecast to be clearer in the north east rather than in my usual stomping grounds so I decided it would be as good a time as any to visit Urra Moor, the highest point in the North York Moors National Park.
Bearing in mind what it was like on my previous walk in the North York Moors when the forecast was supposed to be good I had three different possible itineries depending on the conditions which, as it turned out, could hardly have been better (except the strong wind).
After a steep initial climb from the roadside the gradient to Round Hill, the summit of Urra Moor, was exceptionally easy walking on a clear track all the while enjoying sweeping views in every direction. From Urra Moor we again joined a broad moorland track which took us gently to the western edge of the moor before we descended more steeply on a bridleway down to the small attractive village of Seave Green.
After an extremely muddy interlude on Cold Moor Lane we began to climb again along the eastern flanks of Cold Moor where, sheltered by the wind, we stopped and had our soup. The march along the ridge of Cold Moor was all the more enjoyable because of the fact we had missed so much of what was on view the last time we were up there.
The sudden drop at the northern end of the moor was impressive as were the views out to Roseberry Topping and Easby Moor with the Wain Stones on the flank of Hasty Bank also drawing the eye. The climb up Hasty Bank was easier than it looked and the Wain Stones themselves were very impressive although due to a large party of climbers we did not explore them quite as much as I would have liked to.
The march along the crest of Hasty Bank was similarly enjoyable although the strong winds and precipitous drop meant we had to be quite cautious. Throughout the walk we had seen some quite heavy showers over the Cleveland Plain and we had been quite lucky to avoid them. However only fifteen minutes from the car we were caught in a hailstorm. While Lisa had sensibly donned her waterproof by this time I was more foolhardy and for my stubbornness I got my ears stung by the relentless tide of ice.
The skies cleared just as we made it back down to the road and once again the sun came out. Our previous two trips to the moors had been mixed affairs but this one was a real joy, in fact it is the best walk I've done in the area.
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