Passionate about sharing walking in the East Riding of Yorkshire and the Yorkshire Wolds and to promote the fantastic walking routes in the county

Welcome to 'The Walking Cave Man', a fantastic reference guide to walking in the East Riding of Yorkshire and the Yorkshire Wolds.

'The Walking Cave Man' is an extremely useful resource to unearth the fabulous walking within the East Riding of Yorkshire, providing  details on over 700 miles of walking routes, maps, route descriptions and footpaths showcasing the beautiful countryside and villages in the county, also including information of many other routes and paths.

The purpose of this site is to provide information and interesting walks to enjoy within the Yorkshire Wolds and East Yorkshire, however does include walks in The Yorkshire Dales and The Lake District.

      

The interactive map opposite details all of 'The Walking Cave Man' walks within the East Riding of Yorkshire, however please also look through all the other walks I've highlighted, accessible by selecting the page tabs above or links opposite or try the Walking Cave Man Highlighted walk by selecting the banner below.

    

  If anyone has an interesting walk/route/trail they feel would be of interest or wish to share, I'd be happy to include it on this Blog (please post to thewalkingcaveman@ymail.com) - full accreditation will be given to the author and website if applicable.

Please also remember to follow me on Twitter, 'like' me on my Facebook page or Google +

Yorkshire Three Peaks - A new alternative route from Pen-y-ghent

click image for web site

I have walked Pen-y-ghent a number of times and completed the the Yorkshire Three Peaks for the first time this year. I have always been saddened by the badly-eroded paths leading up this magnificent mountain and also the erosion caused by the thousands of walkers taking on the Y3P challenge every year across Horton Moor and Black Dudd to reach Whernside.

I was glad to read therefore the National Park (in conjunction with partners and volunteers) have completed a new path to combat damage being caused across this particular part of the Y3P route - After contacting the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority I understand from the Area Ranger & Project Manager of the Three Peaks that the new section runs from the Pennine Way at SD 8231 7426 to SD 8103 7489 where it rejoins the traditional route. The new section includes three sections of stepped flag stones and a small footbridge across Sell Gill Beck.

The BLACK dotted line represents the traditional route across Horton Moor
The RED dotted line represents the new alternative route

The new alternative route incorporates the existing path back to Horton in Ribblesdale from Pen-y-ghent which, as many walkers will already know, is a well established gravel path and therefore eradicating the problem of erosion moving elsewhere. 

It is hoped that traditionalist will understand the reasoning for this new route (although it's still only described as an alternative) and use, however looking at routes some walkers still take by cutting off corners coming off the mountain and ignoring signs to follow the prepared path this may be unlikely, although hopefully the majority of walkers will see the benefits and the hard work the National Park have invested in this part of the Yorkshire Dales and help to preserve the moorland.

From my experience the majority of paths navigating up and down the three peaks have all had attention to help the problem of erosion apart from the route up Pen-y-ghent from Horton in Ribblesdale via Brackenbottom and therefore hopefully this will be the next section of the route that will be given badly needed attention.

Pen-y-ghent path from Horton in Ribblesdale

To view my experience of the Yorkshire Three Peaks and the walking routes to the individual peaks of Pen-y-ghent, Whernside and Ingleborough select here or the Yorkshire Dales tab at the top of this page

My 2012 Walking Highlights

           

The Walking Cave Man blog (so called because I live in South Cave, East Yorkshire) has now been up and running for six months and I'm overwhelmed by the fantastic positive response I've received from all that have taken the time to read my posts in 2012. 

Upon starting this blog I had no expectations on what I wanted to achieve other than to share my experiences and really didn't think that many people would be too interested in what I had to share, however over time the site has gone from strength to strength and hopefully will continue to showcase the fantastic countryside and scenery East Yorkshire has to offer and also to encourage others to experience the great outdoors in their area.

This year I have been fortunate enough to have visited and walked a number of places and thought it would be an opportunity to review some of my favourite experiences of 2012, outside of East Yorkshire, and the posts that I've put together for each of these.

The Yorkshire Three Peaks - I had a number of 'walking' goals this year which I felt needed ticking off my bucket list, mainly to say that I done them, which included this challenge walk. 

Although not as tough as I though it was going to be and had 'bagged' each peak individually the year before, this was a fantastic experience I enjoyed immensely, which I completed with a group of new friends from the KC Walking group.

  

The iconic Yorkshire Three Peaks

For further details regarding the Yorkshire Three Peaks challenge, my individual routes for each of the hills and other walks in the Dales please see my Yorkshire Dales Page and also my blog post 'an alternative route from Pen-y-ghent'.

Crinkle Crags and Bowfell - Although I have been camping in Great Langdale for a number of years I've not been lucky enough to experience good conditions to complete this range of peaks, however with my good friend, we were eventually rewarded (after years of waiting) with a weekend of fantastic weather to embark on one of my all time favourite walks.

Crinkle Crags and Bowfell (taken by walking partner - see further pictures at Life Spirit)

For a full walk description and further pictures please see my Lake District page.

    

Helvellyn - On the same weekend as our Crinkle Crags walk the opportunity to take advantage of the weather was too good to miss and therefore my first ascent of Helvellyn via Striding Edge was an extremely memorable one for me.

The Approach and summit of Helvellyn (taken by walking partner - see further pictures at Life Spirit)

Although the weather was superb the wind on the summit was unbelievability strong, blowing me off my feet a couple of times (and I'm a big lump to topple!) however the scenery was breathtaking and well worth the hard ascent. 

For a full walk description and further pictures please see my Lake District page.

Langdale Pikes - I once again joined up with KC Walking for the weekend, with a view to walk the Langdale Pikes and Bowfell, however due to the typical Lake District weather the walk was cut short and Bowfell was unfortunately untackled, however this did not spoil a brilliant walk with really good friends.

The walk started from the traditional starting point at Stickle Barn Tavern heading up Stickle Ghyll and followed the main route to the Langdale Pikes.



Stickle Tarn and Pike of Stickle



For a full walk description and further pictures please see my Lake District page.

There have been many walks that I have enjoyed this year of which these are some and hope to enjoy many more in 2013. Please remember to look at some of the walks that I have posted on this blog and please feel free to contact me at thewalkingcaveman@ymail.com or tweet me @GillardAndrew with any comments or if you have any walks you would like to share.

 Please select the below to view The Walking Cave Man walks in East Yorkshire

 

Mount Airy - South Cave, East Yorkshire

 

This is a smashing little three mile walk, suitable for all walking abilities, although not one for very small children, giving fantastic views over the picturesque village of South Cave, the Humber estuary and an unusual feature of a hill top airfield (if lucky enough you can also witness an aircraft either landing or taking off).

The circular walk has some very steep ascents/descents, however extremely pleasurable with the rewarding scenery. The entire walk should only take a couple of hours to complete, starting and ending at a parking area just outside of Brantingham village (Brantingham being a starting point for a few of my featured walks on this site - See the 'Walking Cave Man interactive walks map').

All Saints Church Brantingham

The walk starts at Grid Reference (GR) SE94353, about half a mile from Brantingham's 'All Saints Church' heading east along a public footpath, following the Yorkshire Wolds Way, passing between Ellerker North Wold and Waltham's Wold Plantation heading down to Woodale Farm.

Heading down to Woodale Farm along the Wolds Way heading to South Cave (Humber estuary in the background)

Heading right at Woodale Farm the route heads up a steep hill to Mount Airy Farm through Woodale Plantation to the highest part of the walk. The footpath at Mount Airy Farm splits, with one path passing through the Farm, although this route goes to the right heading towards the hill top airfield. 

Approaching Mount Air y Farm

From the airfield the path heads through Great Wold Plantation down a steep hill into South Cave where this route leaves the Yorkshire Wolds Way heading left towards the village center. 

Path leading from Mount Airy airfield to South Cave via 'Steep Hill' Lane

The walk starts it's return at this point - looking for a footpath on the right (this is just past Little Wold Lane), heading back up a steep hill to Mount Airy Farm, where the road to the farm meets the Yorkshire Wolds Way footpath (this being the junction where the path split to the airfield) retracing itself to the start of the walk.

Path from Mount Airy to Woodale Farm

Exciting walking around East Yorkshire with a difference

The Walking Cave Man Grid Hunts

The Walking Cave Man Grid Hunts

   

NEW TO THE WALKING CAVE MAN 'ACTIVITY BLOG'

A 'grid hunt' is basically a treasury hunt where walkers called 'Hunters' find and answer clues to complete a walk with the ultimate gold of discovering the walk password.

Hunters are only given a set of clues where grid references have to be worked out and followed throughout the walk, picking up additional clues required for remaining grid references and to identify the walk password.

By only gathering the correct information can the walk be completed and the walk password being correct (in the case of The Walking Cave Man Grid Hunts, the walk password being an email address) - Only when using the correct email address will a response be received back. All successful hunters will also be added to the walks 'Hall Of Fame'.

All hunts vary in length and are therefore suitable for a range of hunting ages, from Adults to families, the differences usually being the walk length and the clues required, therefore it's best to check the details of the hunt before setting off.

All Walking Cave Man hunts come with a brief hunt description (detailing walk length, time the hunt should take and a hunt difficulty). A help sheet will also be available in case navigation goes amiss or if clue can not be worked out.  

The first Walking Cave Man Grid Hunt is now available - Check this out and give it a go. More Grid Hunts are on the way so please keep checking for updates.

HAPPY HUNTING!

Appletreewick - The Yorkshire Dales

                         

 

Yorkshire Wolds Walking and Outdoors Festival 2012

 A fantastic ‘Walking and Outdoor Festival’ was held in the Yorkshire Wolds last weekend (14^th to the 23^rd September 2012), in which over 25 different events were organised, showcasing the best the area has to offer in terms of wildlife and the countryside.

The festival brought together a large verity of activities ranging from strenuous walking (including different events such as ‘Nordic Walking across the Beverley Westwood’) to the more traditional moderate walks through The Wolds beautiful villages of South Cave & North Cave, Fridaythorpe, Thixendale and Millington to name a few.

A number of the shorter walks included activities for walkers to experience, including photography around Millington, bird watching with experts, ghost walks around Beverley and a rare opportunity to help make final yearly checks of bat boxes with the East Yorkshire Bat Group.

A number of events were also arranged to include all the family, ranging from survival skills in the outdoors, navigation for beginners and my boy’s own favourite, a GSP treasure hunt around Londesborough (made even more special for them as their pictures were taken to be included in next years festival leaflet … hopefully).    

Although pre-booking was essential on some of the events, a large number of activities were free of charge and open to everyone just to turn up and enjoy. Where costs had been applied these were extremely reasonable.

The full list and details of this year’s festival can be viewed here. Hopefully the festival will be held again next year, so will be looking forward to turning up and trying out some of the other events in 2013.

North Cave Royals U13 Football club sponsored walk

The North Cave Royals U13 Football Club completed a 15 mile sponsored walk on the 19th September 2012 following the Millington Circular Walk (Walk No. C1) - A tough walk for their age and therefore they fully deserve the sponsor money they have collected, which goes towards equipment for the team.

The team met at the North Cave playing field where everyone travelled in convoy to the starting point at the picnic area between Stamford Bridge and Fridaythorpe.

The walk started at 10.30 and finished 4.30 (6 hours in total) - a fantastic effort by everyone.

Having lunch at the half way point (Millington) and the extremely steep hill at Sylvan Dale