Following on from my kit list thread (thanks to everyone who helped me out with my list) here's the trip report of my walk along the Tabular Hills trail.
The trail is one of the UK's shorter long distance paths, but my first time walking any LDP. The route runs from Helmsley to Scarborough and was devised in order to provide a link between either end of the Cleveland Way. Its 48 mile course follows the southern edge of the North York Moors national park. The terrain is a mixture of steep, wooded glacial valleys and hill top plateaus of agricultural and moorland. The later stages also pass through the 'Great Yorkshire Forest' an area of hill top plantation pine, again with the characteristic glacial valleys.
I'd aimed to cover around 10 miles a day, which is a comfortable distance for me with a full pack. I'd originally intended to do this with a friend but unfortunately he couldn't get the time off, so this was to be my first solo venture of this length.
Day 1 Helmsley to Fadmoor
Caught the moors bus link from Hull up to Helmsley and was under way for around 11am in some light drizzle.
The rather inauspicious trail head.
Setting out from Helmsley I got somewhat drenched when the light rain turned into a bit of a cloudburst before I could get my waterproofs on. Not a great start but the weather soon turned back to sunshine as I walked through a wooded valley. Saw a couple of deer darting across the path and Buzzards and a Kite circling above.
Within the first hour or so I noticed hot spots forming in my boots, not great and I failed to heed the good advice I'd received on here and deal with them straight away. I did stop however to discover a nice pair of blisters on my heels
. While these boots, Brasher Supalite 2's, were newish to me I had worn them previously with no ill effects. Can only imagine the backpack changed my posture or something .
Well it was a case of call the whole thing off or strap them up and continue, I chose the latter.
Carrying on up the valley the path soon opened out onto the sunny and golden wheat fields. A view and a breeze, what more do you need for a days walking?
The trail continued through much the same sort of terrain for the rest of the first day, high fields and wooded valleys.
The path is well blazed and I rarely had to refer to the maps, except to check distances and some tricky bits going through farmsteads.
Stopping for lunch I had the chance to re-dress my blisters and dry my gear out. First time using the pot cozy method to reconstitute my dehydrated meals. A really quick and easy method of cooking and as I'd made the meals myself they were seasoned to my palate. No need to pack condiments. Having the MyTiCup was a real boon too, I could get a brew on while I waited for my meal to rehydrate in my Primus Alutech 1l.
Water was readily available at first. I refilled my bottles using the Premac MWP filter, which is slow but did a good job of disinfecting as I'd have to collect from some pretty gnarly water sources later on in the trip. Stopped at this stream to refill.
Carried on walking until around 6, the last couple of miles along concrete back roads which hurt the feet. it was hot and I was liberal with my water.
Coming in to my last valley for the day I'd intended to fill my bottles at the stream at its bottom. Unfortunately it was fenced off and generally inaccessible, leaving me with less than a litre to see me through until morning. Camped up at the other side of the valley and settled in for a thirsty night.
Cooked up some brown mush (Beef stew) and did a repair to my jacket. Not sure how I'd ripped it but must of happened on a previous trip, glad I'd taken needle and thread. Listened to Lord of the Rings on my MP3 player, an audio book is a good thing to have nice to hear a human voice when solo camping.
Climbed into my bivvi around 8 and was asleep with the sunset.
The trail is one of the UK's shorter long distance paths, but my first time walking any LDP. The route runs from Helmsley to Scarborough and was devised in order to provide a link between either end of the Cleveland Way. Its 48 mile course follows the southern edge of the North York Moors national park. The terrain is a mixture of steep, wooded glacial valleys and hill top plateaus of agricultural and moorland. The later stages also pass through the 'Great Yorkshire Forest' an area of hill top plantation pine, again with the characteristic glacial valleys.
I'd aimed to cover around 10 miles a day, which is a comfortable distance for me with a full pack. I'd originally intended to do this with a friend but unfortunately he couldn't get the time off, so this was to be my first solo venture of this length.
Day 1 Helmsley to Fadmoor
Caught the moors bus link from Hull up to Helmsley and was under way for around 11am in some light drizzle.
The rather inauspicious trail head.
Setting out from Helmsley I got somewhat drenched when the light rain turned into a bit of a cloudburst before I could get my waterproofs on. Not a great start but the weather soon turned back to sunshine as I walked through a wooded valley. Saw a couple of deer darting across the path and Buzzards and a Kite circling above.
Within the first hour or so I noticed hot spots forming in my boots, not great and I failed to heed the good advice I'd received on here and deal with them straight away. I did stop however to discover a nice pair of blisters on my heels
. While these boots, Brasher Supalite 2's, were newish to me I had worn them previously with no ill effects. Can only imagine the backpack changed my posture or something .
Well it was a case of call the whole thing off or strap them up and continue, I chose the latter.
Carrying on up the valley the path soon opened out onto the sunny and golden wheat fields. A view and a breeze, what more do you need for a days walking?
The trail continued through much the same sort of terrain for the rest of the first day, high fields and wooded valleys.
The path is well blazed and I rarely had to refer to the maps, except to check distances and some tricky bits going through farmsteads.
Stopping for lunch I had the chance to re-dress my blisters and dry my gear out. First time using the pot cozy method to reconstitute my dehydrated meals. A really quick and easy method of cooking and as I'd made the meals myself they were seasoned to my palate. No need to pack condiments. Having the MyTiCup was a real boon too, I could get a brew on while I waited for my meal to rehydrate in my Primus Alutech 1l.
Water was readily available at first. I refilled my bottles using the Premac MWP filter, which is slow but did a good job of disinfecting as I'd have to collect from some pretty gnarly water sources later on in the trip. Stopped at this stream to refill.
Carried on walking until around 6, the last couple of miles along concrete back roads which hurt the feet. it was hot and I was liberal with my water.
Coming in to my last valley for the day I'd intended to fill my bottles at the stream at its bottom. Unfortunately it was fenced off and generally inaccessible, leaving me with less than a litre to see me through until morning. Camped up at the other side of the valley and settled in for a thirsty night.
Cooked up some brown mush (Beef stew) and did a repair to my jacket. Not sure how I'd ripped it but must of happened on a previous trip, glad I'd taken needle and thread. Listened to Lord of the Rings on my MP3 player, an audio book is a good thing to have nice to hear a human voice when solo camping.
Climbed into my bivvi around 8 and was asleep with the sunset.
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looking forward to the next installments, on a side note, would have been nice to have a photo of all your kit (after heading the various advice), would just complete the thread nicely.....that and the rest of the story/trail of course.
