Cleveland Way National Trail, Day 7

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Osmotherly to Helmsley.

Distance: About 19 Miles.

Time Taken: 7 hours.

Weather: Hazy Sunshine but Windy and Cool.

The Walk

I have to freely admit; the penultimate day on the Cleveland Way was a killer.

The 21-mile walk together with the six hard ascents and descents across the edge of the North York Moors between Kildale and Osmotherly had really taken it out of me.

So with that in mind, I took the opportunity provided by the visit of the 2017 Tour de Yorkshire cycle race through Whitby to have a well-earned rest day and to watch the riders.

Whitby Peleton

The Peleton of the Tour de Yorkshire Speeds into Whitby!

Having rested the day before; I was feeling in fine fettle for this final day of my attempt on the Cleveland Way National Trail.

I'd arranged an early taxi from Whitby to Osmotherly; and arrived there by 8am.

Last evening I'd reviewed the bus time table to see that I needed to walk into Helmsley by 430pm in order to catch the bus home to Whitby via Pickering.

So, with that timeframe in mind; I set off with eight-and-a-half hours up my sleeve for the 19-mile walk.

That seemed doable!

Acorn

Just Follow the Acorn!

The first hour of the walk from Osmotherly is mainly uphill as I hiked up and onto the escarpement on the Western edge of the North York Moors National Park.

It isn't a very hard uphill walk and it does reward with some nice scenic views.

Once the top of the climb was reached and I was out onto the Moors proper, the walk is an easy rolling path with the Moors stretching away to the East and the Vale of York stretching away to the Pennines to the West.

Golmire

View Over Lake Golmire at Sutton Bank.

Within four hours I'd arrived at the visitor centre at Sutton Bank; and it was time to enjoy a bit of lunch and a look at the "best view in England".

I've covered about 11-miles in the morning so the remaining eight miles to Helmsley seemed like a doddle.

And they were!

Rievaulx Sign

Getting Closer All the Time!

The walk from Sutton Bank to Helmsley is almost all downhill or through rolling countryside with hardly any steep climbs.

A highlight of this section of the Cleveland Way are the views to majestic Rievaulx Abbey about 3-miles before reaching the end of the walk.

With about a mile to go; I caught my first glimse of Helmsley castle and knew my walk was nearly over.

Arriving at 3pm, there was plenty of time to take a selfie at the Cleveland Way statue in the town and enjoy a little rest before returning home to Whitby.

Helmsley castle

Helmsley Castle.

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