"And now for something completely different!" - 14th July 2020

Rosedale Abbey from Chimney Bank

There may be hundreds / thousands of people currently entering the seaside towns and countryside, but it is still possible to find delightful walks in beautiful countryside with few, if any people about. Today we fancied a change and headed out to Rosedale Chimney Bank for a walk and explore.

Of course, you cannot, just cannot avoid photographing fantastic views and birds, even if it is dull and cloudy with an occasional sunny interval!

The day started off well with a hunting ringtail Hen Harrier near Speeton! Downside, couldn't stop and capture an image!

As expected, the Rosedale Chimney Bank only had a couple of people walking so social distancing was not a problem!

Some of the views...

One of the most obvious landmarks here are the remains of the ironstone roasting Kilns, active from c1856 until 1926.

Initially horse-drawn carts transported ironstone from the mines down to a railway line at Pickering. This was a slow and difficult journey on poor roads, which often became gummed up with mud in wet weather. In 1861 a railway line opened to connect the Rosedale mines and kilns with the ironworks on the banks of the River Tees. The railway ran along the western edge of Rosedale valley, across the moors and down the Cleveland Hills until it connected with the line to Middlesbrough. It was a great leap forward for the mining industry here – before the railway about 4,000 tons of ironstone was transported out of Rosedale, but in 1865 alone 250,000 tons were removed!

A short distance along the old track is the Miners Memorial Bench. Designed and coordinated by Vivien Mousdell. Hopefully you can read the wording?

It had to be done! The "touristy" image!

The carvings on the bench seat and stone were inspired from images drawn by children of Rosedale Primary School

The beauty of the walks here are that you can walk as little or as much as you want.

Now, did we see any birds? Yes, but the dull, cloudy conditions did not assist my efforts!

Wheatear

Meadow Pipit

And of course, Red Grouse