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Created; 04-01-2024, Changed; 03-01-2025, 04-01-2025
I used my Cannon IXUS camera and my Doro8030 "smartphone". Travelled by train and bus. The earliest train from High Brooms was 6.15 AM was not crowded and none of the other trains were crowded. Many of the later trains were going to be very full, though. The bus x93 max was busy both ways between Scarborough and Whitby, bus stop cemetery and walk to Larpool Hall was reasonably short. 23rd December 2024.
I had considered taking the train to Whitby, but this slower scenic route has an infrequent service.
The redundant transformer on the poles features in my first view of the Abbey ruins in the distance.
Three walk leaders, Chris (in the picture below), Mervyn and Jill. The first rail line was horse-drawn, and there had been a stationary steam winch to pull the carriages up a hill. Chris explained the first carriage was pulled up then lowered the other side of the hill, counter-weighing the next carriage being pulled up. The replacement rail route is flatter.
This smart device camera copes okay, but sun on the lens, below, has fogged that picture. That it makes a good compromise, but B&W film such as XP4 is very much better.
Goathland & Grosmont Circuit (slowest pace walk, 1 of 3), 24th
Distance: 7 miles (11km), Ascent: 950 feet (280m)
In summary: From Goathland station, we cross moorland & farmland to reach Grosmont. Our return route follows the old railway trail between the two villages.
Goathland station looks like and is used as a film set, unusually the village is not crammed with cars unlike many picture sq places.
The vegan options are limited at this HF house, so it was good to find a very nice vegan scone in a tea shop, Goathland.
By comparison, Freshwater Bay HF offered a vegan version of every menu item. Vegan scones are not any more difficult to make, but very few people can make nice gluten-free scones, except VegiVentures. (I don't choose to eat gluten-free, but have them)
My father probably visited the same places and there is a better picture of a train at; https://family.andrew-lohmann.me.uk/john-harold-lohmann-1929-2002
There is a lot of dark in these pictures, which is common with colour film and digital photography. IMEC, Belgium, developed a camera with a dynamic of 100,000 and 1 million to one. Each pixel contained a transistor giving the pixel a logarithmic sensitivity. That meant its exposure time increased in the dark areas of the picture. That integrated circuit may be made by Microchip under the brand Atmel.
This B&W camera developed in the 1990 has a comparable wide dynamic range as B&W film, but there is a risk that the slow responding dark regions of the picture could smear.
The river Esk flows north into the north facing Whitby bay.
Villages South Of The Esk (chose option 1), Christmas day.
Sneaton And Stainsacre, Distance: 7½ miles (11.5km), Ascent: 750 feet (240m)
In summary: We make our way to Ruswarp then ascend, with great views as far as Whitby Abbey, to the village
of Sneaton. Our return takes us via the village of Stainsacre.
This was the shortest of the slow pace walks this holiday. We looked at more things, and Whitby has a lot to look at.
Christmas dinner above - Jill performed some music on her saxophone with a pre-recorded accompaniment.
Boxing Day - I did not walk because I had another blister but on the other foot, changing to other thick socks resolved the problem. I also came home once again with a rash around my ankles, I had mentioned this after a previous holiday with HF, but I guess that I have a sensitivity to what HF uses to wash their bedding?
The walk would have been Robin Hoods Bay To Whitby, here are some pictures; https://www.andrew-lohmann.me.uk/photographs
27th - My pick from the menu breakfast below. It was a misty day, when I looked out.
Whitby Museum, Pannett Park
The free day, 27th,
A short walk to Eskdale Road near the shops then the 95 bus, into Whitby. Lovely misty day for mysterious photography, I tried to capture something like Sutcliffe. Neither the Sutcliffe gallery nor the shop exist now, but there are pictures in the museum, which was closed.
I did not walk much this day, a blister on one foot one day then the other foot the next, it seemed my new boots needed wearing in a bit. But it turned out that the thick socks caused the blisters, and a changing to other thick socks solved the problem.
It was a lovely for atmospheric misty day photography.
The swimmers did not stay in long but came out to a heated igloo tent on the beach.
The Sea must be cold, but a big group of mostly women were taking a quick dip in small groups.
Along The Smuggler's Coast, 28th, I once again I chose the slowest pace Option 1
Runswick Bay To Sandsend, Distance: 6 miles (9.5km), Total ascent: 1,000 feet (300m)
In summary: Enjoy a glorious section of the Yorkshire coast between Runswick Bay and Sandsend. We start along the beach, then ascend onto the cliff-top path which takes us around the headland at Kettleness and on to Sandsend.
Highlight: There's time to explore Staithes before rejoining the coach to start our walk at Runswick Bay. Staithes is a timeless fishing village with cobbled streets and historic buildings.
Once again, the walk leaders entertained us in the evenings and for the second evening Jill performed some modern light music on her saxophone. Long gone has been the culture of visitors bringing much of the entertainment to HF.
VegiVentures probably was the only company where people would have a go or present something very interesting, all received politely.
I also wanted to expose for the grass, so I lowered the smart camera a little and made a better picture right.
Humble Pie and mash shop, Whitby had that one vegan option, plus the sauces including Leon Perrin's sauce was a vegan variant. The cake in the YHA hostel was very nice that used to be the CHA holiday house boot room. Mr Cooper's cake shop had a supper range, but it was crowded, so I did not try anything there.
The curiosity window below was not a shop window but a display of vintage things.
Whitby Station - I did not go out walking with the group this day, but those walking groups also saw the steam train. It was very crowded, strange because they were and are dirty, smelly, inefficient things. Electric trains are much better in all those respects. That was the 29th.
My walk was half the distance of any of the organised walks. There was a route up a hill to the Abbey, and then I carefully counted 196 steps down, although it is said there are 199 steps. The bus route back is not included.
I came home on 30th on crowded trains and a clapped out Arriva bus. TransPennine could surely have put more carriages on their trains?
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