North York Moors Walks
Beacon Hill & Cod Beck Reservoir
Date: 25th May 2009
Distance:4.5 miles
Ascent: 492 feet
Time: 2 hours 30 minutes
With: Lisa and Rhiannon
Start Grid Ref: SE456972
Walk Summary:
Another nice family outing in the North York Moors visiting Beacon Hill and Cod Beck Reservoir near Osmotherley.
Route Summary: Osmotherley - Lady's Chapel - South Wood - Beacon Hill - Scarth Wood Moor - Cod Beck Reservoir - Cote Garth - Osmotherley
Pictures:
1. A hazy view of the Vale of Mowbray from Rueberry Lane
2. With Rhiannon in South Wood
3. The path through South Wood
4. The trig point on Beacon Hill
5. Rhiannon having a run after refueling with picnic food
6. Cod Beck Reservoir
7. A flotilla of geese and goslings
8. Cod Beck below the reservoir
Walk Detail: The climb up to the top of Beacon Hill proved to be a tougher proposition than I expected as the climb up through South Wood was steeper than anticipated and with Rhiannon on my back was quite tiring.
Before that though we had found the well hidden view indicator on Rueberry Hill (though due to the haze you could not see as far as I would have liked) and taken a detour to the shy Lady Chapel. Along the ridge of Beacon Hill Rhiannon got out of the back pack and walked a bit thus giving me some much needed rest.
The summit was a bit disappointing and the trig point was on the other side of the wall which had barbed wire running along it. Dropping down to the moor we found a handy little bench to have our picnic before angling down towards in Cod Beck Reservoir. This proved to be an excellent diversion and is seemingly popular with picnicers from Teeside.
There was a nice wide path round the reservoir and we were treated to the site of over 20 goslings. The walk was completed by a walk through the woods and finally the road. Rhiannon was fast asleep when we got back to the car but she enjoyed herself as did we all.
Unfortunately the next day my left knee hurt quite a lot on the inside and was the start of a problem that ultimately led to a scan and an operation later in the year to repair a torn cartilage. All I can think of is that I did it carrying Rhiannon on my back up through South Wood.
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