Day 11            Catterick Bridge to Ingleby Cross

19 miles                       Fair and dry

We had asked for an early breakfast at St Giles Farm and left at 8.30am after saying our fond farewells to Henry the labrador, who had laid under the table at our feet whilst we ate dinner last night.

Goodbye Henry and St Giles Farm

We had a long walk ahead of us today but conditions couldn't have been better and we set off in mild, windless weather, but almost immediately had to cope with a couple of diversions caused by work taking place on the A1.  We photographed the notice giving details of our diversion but we needn't have worried as a succession of farmers, tradesmen and construction workers shouted directions to us whenever we paused for a second to check our route.  They must be very used to Coast to Coasters getting lost here!

Take a photo to to help remember the diversion

Poppies among the roadworks

The temporary bridge over the A1

Interesting posters along the bridge

These really are major works and there is a temporary bridge over the A1 with hoardings explaining the archaeological finds that have been made which we couldn't resist reading in detail.

The route then took us along the sides of fields, through enclosed paths and on tarmac for short periods and was largely flat and uninteresting.  Some farmers had made an effort to keep paths clear, others less friendly to walkers, had not.  Crops, like rape which had gone to seed, fell heavily across the narrow paths and the spurt of growth following the recent rain made some paths less obvious and care was needed.

Army through the ages, near Catterick

Striding out for 19 miles

We made two stops over the the day. The first, after only a couple of hours was at Kiplin Hall, once a hunting lodge of James I.  Here we were given a large cafetiere of coffee and tasted the second best scone of our C2C walk, the best being at Ravenseat Farm.   

Entering Bolton on Swale

The Jenkin's Memorial

Jenkins was reputed to have lived from 1500 to 1670, 169 years!

Coffee and scones in gracious surroundings at Kiplin Hall

Kiplin Hall

Roses at Kiplin Hall

Our second stop was to perch on rectangular hay bales to eat our trail bars and drink our own coffee at around 2.30pm, just as the Cleveland Hills came into view for the first time.

Another enterprising farmer offers refreshments

Scary stile, had sound effects too!

We saw very few walkers and the last couple of miles were hard as we were starting to tire.  We reached the A19 dual carriageway at 4.45pm and here had to make a scary run across the road in rush hour traffic.  We waited until there was a good gap but still got honked at by motorists who are shocked to see walkers crossing here.  As there are about 8000 - 10000 Coast to Coast walkers crossing at this point every year it would be nice if an underpass or bridge could be constructed.

Miles of field paths

The going was tough through overgrown crops

... and sometimes overgrown hedges!

We passed through Ingleby Arncliffe and then Ingleby Cross where the Bluebell pub was our stop for the night.  We approached the pub looking forward to a well earned pint and were pleased to see Keiran, AKA Big Pack Man, sitting at a table outside.  We swapped adventures; he had missed out Keld but had walked shorter days from Richmond to Danby Wiske and then Danby Wiske to Ingleby Cross, thus rejoining our schedule.

Nearly there!

Weather vane at Ingleby Arncliffe

The Bluebell and Carole looks relieved!

I hope I never see that many steps on my pedometer again!

We got our beer and chatted to the landlord who told us that C2C walkers provided a steady source of income for the pub for 8 months of the year.  

Conversation over dinner was mainly about walking and we discovered that we now have new trail companions, having left behind the Americans and Australians we have been walking with, as they all took rest days at Richmond. 

To Day 12

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