Reeking Gill, Rosedale

This is the view over Rosedale, taken near the Lion Inn and looking east-north-east across the valley towards the tributary valley of Reeking Gill.

It shows the contrast between the heather that grows on the moor tops, and the farmland in the valley bottom.

Towards the top left is a small white blob which is the Moorsbus that had carried us up to the Lion Inn, making its return journey towards Rosedale Abbey village and then on to Pickering.

Running across the shot, roughly 1/3 down from the top, and crossing an embankment over Reeking Gill, is the route of a disused railway - the Rosedale Railway. The former railway ran high up on both sides of the valley, forming a horseshoe shape. It was built to gain access to iron ore deposits which were mined at several locations around the valley. A further line westwards carried the iron ore to a massive rope worked incline where the railway wagons were lowered from the moor tops and could continue their journey on to Middlesborough where the ore was smelted. It only survived until 1929, the mines having closed in 1925 due to increased costs and a fall in the price being paid for iron ore.

The rail routes are all now open to walkers and cyclists. Recent improvements have been made to some of the wetter parts of the trackbed, but I haven’t had chance to go and look at the changes yet.

This will be my last post for a while, since I will be staying at my mum’s house for a few days. She has been in hospital for four weeks and her health is deteriorating, and I’m to be allowed to visit her despite the one visitor limit (a Covid-19 rule). My brother has been the one visitor so far since he lives fairly close to the hospital. I’m not sure when I will be back home, but I’m already looking forward to catching up with all your photos.

Ian