Saturday 4th July
It was still warm with showers threatened but we decided to do the last stage of our Ivanhoe Way walk. We drove to Nailstone and parked outside the Black Bull. We walked along the very narrow lane out of the village and crossed the A447 into fields with very clear footpaths through oilseed rape, broad beans and barley. We emerged onto the road leading to Odstone and followed the road round to Odstone Hall where we came across a sign saying “road closed due to flooding”. We debated a bit but decided the footpath was still open so continued through. As it was, the path was a bit wet in places but we have walked in much worse and you wouldn't have got a vehicle through even without the flooding!
As we were walking along here a group of horse riders passed us, then another, and then another. We decided we were in the middle of an organised trek. We stopped and watched the riders for a while and then battled our way along the footpath which went through oil seed rape which had collapsed over the path, it was a struggle to get through and when we got to the end we met the riders again who had diverted round the farm.
We emerged into Shackerstone and thus ended the Ivanhoe Way which we had started in November last year. We had a celebratory lunch in the Rising Sun and then set off for the return journey.
We followed the path beside the canal for a little while, and then headed across meadows towards Tivey's farm. This was where things began to get difficult. We had trouble finding the footpath and then when we did the stile was obstructed by a large pile of building rubble which we had to climb over, we then could not find where the path went but when we found the sign the farmer had conveniently dumped a very large, fresh pile of cow slurry just I front of the stile (or it was a very large cow)! We managed to negotiate this safely and then again found there was no indication of where the path went, so we walked around the side of the field - the wrong side I suspect and eventually found a way out onto the lane.
We managed to follow the path clearly for a while, still meeting horse trekkers, their route left ours a bit further along this path.
We crossed the road at Odstone and followed the path, but here we had problems as the farmer had divided his fields up with electric fencing and wire barriers, completely obstructing the access to the footpath. We managed to get over one fence and walked up the track to the farm where we were able to rejoin the footpath, but at various intervals he had placed electric fences across the path. We met two walkers coming from the other direction that were lost and said they had been unable to find the path as the signs were hidden and the path blocked with fences. We managed to eventually get through to the A447 at Ibstock, but not without having to climb over two more wire fences and cross a field with cows and a very large bull.
We crossed the road and walked behind the church yard to emerge on a lane at Belchers bar. We were unsure of our way here, but a man in his garden pointed out the path. We crossed into the fields and were a bit nervous to see cows at the bottom of the field near the stile. After all the reports of stampeding cows over the last few weeks we were a bit worried, especially when we saw that one cow had some very young calves. We walked around the cows and although they seemed interested they did not move. We crossed into an area of National Forest plantation which also did not seem to have a clear path through but eventually emerged near to the church in Nailstone. It was very warm when we got back to the car and we had walked 13.8km - although it had seemed like more.
Thursday 9 July 2009
Tuesday 7 July 2009
Flamborough Head, 23rd June to 30th June 2009
After a hectic few weeks we decided a break was called for. We hitched up the caravan and left home at about 11 and had a steady journey to Flamborough. Just before we arrived a stone was thrown at the car window which caused a big chip - a good start to the holiday. We finally arrived at about 2.30. The temporary holiday site is a nice flat field beside a farm and is run by South Lincs da (£7 per night). It was lovely and sunny and we sat out and read before having an early tea. After washing up we went for a walk and headed towards the cliffs. There was a footpath beside the farm and we walked beside fields of broad beans to the cliffs and turned left towards South landing. We walked along the top and then down the steep steps towards the beach and then followed the path inland finding the clues for a multi-cache. We found the cache spot but could not find the cache after an extensive search, it had been a nice walk though. We walked back along the cliff top and got back at about 9.
The weather was mixed over the next few days so we relaxed and did a few small walks exploring the local area.
Thursday 25th June
We drove to Bempton, only a few miles away and parked near the church. We walked to the duck pond where there were lots of ducks- one mallard had 16 ducklings. We found Bempton ducks cache and then walked across a field to Bempton sheep cache. It was a bit thistley and John had shorts and sandals on so after finding the cache we walked back round the road. We then drove to Bempton cliffs RSPB nature reserve and parked. We had a very nice organic roll for lunch and then walked along the cliffs towards the gannet colony where it was fascinating to see the birds, with thier chicks clinging to the cliffs.
We also saw a few puffins here, which I had always wanted to see. We walked back and along the cliffs in the other direction where we saw lots more puffins, kittiwakes with young, razorbills and guillimots. It was a lovely day. We then found the clues for Bempton seabird colony cache and found the cache just before we left for home.
Sunday 28th June
After our chores we set off for a walk. It was warm and not too cloudy but we carried fleeces and waterproofs, just in case. We walked towards Flamborough, passing through the churchyard, where we had to wait for members of the congregation to clear the path. The vicar waved at us in a friendly way as we went past. We followed the road all the way to North landing, enjoying all the pretty gardens. At North landing we had good views of the caves which had been used by smugglers to store their contraband.
We collected a clue for a cache we were going to do later and then started to walk round the cliffs. We stopped several times to watch the birds on the cliffs. We saw more puffins and guillimots, and further round kittiwakes with their fluffy chicks. We continued heading toward the Head and passed a heathland area with lots of pyramidal orchids in flower. When we got to Flamborough Head we stopped to look for a cache but the area was very overgrown so we did not find it, but we continued to find the clues for another cache. I did spot a frog though. We had lunch at the uninspiring pub near the lighthouse, a sausage baguette and very greasy chips and then went to find the cache that we had collected the clues for.
There were some people sitting on the bench that we needed to search so we admired the view for a while. We saw a kestrel dive and catch a small mammal, and then chased by a kittiwake which caused the kestrel to drop his lunch. After the men moved from the bench we went and searched for the cache but were unsuccessful, again. We continued our walk round the head, passing the lighthouse and the radio transmitter station. The tramsmitter station sounds a fog horn every 90 seconds, which we can hear from our caravan site, but which is quite deafening when standing under it. The South side of the head was not as interesting as the north. The cliffs were not so visible so we could not see the birds, but there were lots of butterflies along the route. There were also several inlets which meant descending steep flights of steps only to climb back up again on the other side. We got back to the caravan at about 5.30, having walked 12km
Monday 29th June
We got up early and as it was our last day we didn't want to have a long walk so decided on a a geocachey day.
We drove along Woldgate parked along the road, and walked along the bridleway to Carnaby temple which was a folly built in the 18th century.
We hunted for a cache for a while but were unsuccessful as everywhere was so overgrown. We then drove on to see Rodston monolith. This was an impressive stone in the churchyard, at 8 metres tall it is the tallest standing stone in the country. 
We followed the clues and had a walk around the area finding 2 caches and then after lunch in the pub we drove onto Burton Agnes. This cache had us fighting our way across a field of oil-seed rape. The flowers had gone but the seed pods were developing and the plants had collapsed across the footpath so it was quite a struggle, we searched for a while and eventually found the cache. We realized that this was part of a series of caches so we took the co-ordinates and went back to the car. When we got there a 1954 Ferguson tractor was parked in front.
It had been beautifully renovated and the owner chatted to us for a while. Our next nearest cache was at Harpham about 2 km away so we drove and parked in the village and after finding the footpath walked across the field and quickly found the cache. It was another part of the series so after taking the co-ordinates we decided we had to do the next two. We drove a short distance to Bracey bridge, a picnic area off the main road and set off to find the next cache, this took quite a while as the satellite reception was very poor in the woods but we eventually found the cache and the last set of clues, which led us to the village of Kilham. We parked near the school and set off across another footpath over a field of oil seed rape. It was really hard work across this field and as we approached the cache area we noticed men on a crane working in sight of the cache. Luckily we were on the other side of the hedge and after quite a hunt in all the nettles and thistles, and scrambling under the hedge, I found the cache. We found a much nicer path back to the car, which went past the village pond, complete with ducks. We drove through to Bridlington after this and had a nice walk along the prom and had fish and chips sitting watching the waves. Considering most of our day had been spent in the car, we were surprised to find that we had walked over 12 km.
The weather was mixed over the next few days so we relaxed and did a few small walks exploring the local area.
Thursday 25th June
We drove to Bempton, only a few miles away and parked near the church. We walked to the duck pond where there were lots of ducks- one mallard had 16 ducklings. We found Bempton ducks cache and then walked across a field to Bempton sheep cache. It was a bit thistley and John had shorts and sandals on so after finding the cache we walked back round the road. We then drove to Bempton cliffs RSPB nature reserve and parked. We had a very nice organic roll for lunch and then walked along the cliffs towards the gannet colony where it was fascinating to see the birds, with thier chicks clinging to the cliffs.
We also saw a few puffins here, which I had always wanted to see. We walked back and along the cliffs in the other direction where we saw lots more puffins, kittiwakes with young, razorbills and guillimots. It was a lovely day. We then found the clues for Bempton seabird colony cache and found the cache just before we left for home.Sunday 28th June
After our chores we set off for a walk. It was warm and not too cloudy but we carried fleeces and waterproofs, just in case. We walked towards Flamborough, passing through the churchyard, where we had to wait for members of the congregation to clear the path. The vicar waved at us in a friendly way as we went past. We followed the road all the way to North landing, enjoying all the pretty gardens. At North landing we had good views of the caves which had been used by smugglers to store their contraband.
We collected a clue for a cache we were going to do later and then started to walk round the cliffs. We stopped several times to watch the birds on the cliffs. We saw more puffins and guillimots, and further round kittiwakes with their fluffy chicks. We continued heading toward the Head and passed a heathland area with lots of pyramidal orchids in flower. When we got to Flamborough Head we stopped to look for a cache but the area was very overgrown so we did not find it, but we continued to find the clues for another cache. I did spot a frog though. We had lunch at the uninspiring pub near the lighthouse, a sausage baguette and very greasy chips and then went to find the cache that we had collected the clues for.
There were some people sitting on the bench that we needed to search so we admired the view for a while. We saw a kestrel dive and catch a small mammal, and then chased by a kittiwake which caused the kestrel to drop his lunch. After the men moved from the bench we went and searched for the cache but were unsuccessful, again. We continued our walk round the head, passing the lighthouse and the radio transmitter station. The tramsmitter station sounds a fog horn every 90 seconds, which we can hear from our caravan site, but which is quite deafening when standing under it. The South side of the head was not as interesting as the north. The cliffs were not so visible so we could not see the birds, but there were lots of butterflies along the route. There were also several inlets which meant descending steep flights of steps only to climb back up again on the other side. We got back to the caravan at about 5.30, having walked 12kmMonday 29th June
We got up early and as it was our last day we didn't want to have a long walk so decided on a a geocachey day.
We drove along Woldgate parked along the road, and walked along the bridleway to Carnaby temple which was a folly built in the 18th century.
We hunted for a cache for a while but were unsuccessful as everywhere was so overgrown. We then drove on to see Rodston monolith. This was an impressive stone in the churchyard, at 8 metres tall it is the tallest standing stone in the country. 
We followed the clues and had a walk around the area finding 2 caches and then after lunch in the pub we drove onto Burton Agnes. This cache had us fighting our way across a field of oil-seed rape. The flowers had gone but the seed pods were developing and the plants had collapsed across the footpath so it was quite a struggle, we searched for a while and eventually found the cache. We realized that this was part of a series of caches so we took the co-ordinates and went back to the car. When we got there a 1954 Ferguson tractor was parked in front.
It had been beautifully renovated and the owner chatted to us for a while. Our next nearest cache was at Harpham about 2 km away so we drove and parked in the village and after finding the footpath walked across the field and quickly found the cache. It was another part of the series so after taking the co-ordinates we decided we had to do the next two. We drove a short distance to Bracey bridge, a picnic area off the main road and set off to find the next cache, this took quite a while as the satellite reception was very poor in the woods but we eventually found the cache and the last set of clues, which led us to the village of Kilham. We parked near the school and set off across another footpath over a field of oil seed rape. It was really hard work across this field and as we approached the cache area we noticed men on a crane working in sight of the cache. Luckily we were on the other side of the hedge and after quite a hunt in all the nettles and thistles, and scrambling under the hedge, I found the cache. We found a much nicer path back to the car, which went past the village pond, complete with ducks. We drove through to Bridlington after this and had a nice walk along the prom and had fish and chips sitting watching the waves. Considering most of our day had been spent in the car, we were surprised to find that we had walked over 12 km.
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