While others did Ben Donich and Arran over the Easter weekend Alison and I headed south to Goathland in the North York Moors. We didn't set off until 7 o'clock but made good progress arriving around 11.30pm. Our accommodation was Barnet House, a converted farmhouse including a newly refurbished stable of which we were the first (human!) occupants.

After a good Yorkshire breakfast we set off for Newtondale, a gorge formed by meltwater from the ice age. A varied route saw us walk over moors, along a roman road, through forests and of course a couple of river crossings. Eventually we descended to Newtondale Halt on the North York Moors Steam Railway. From here we took the train to Grosmont where we had some liquid refreshment at the Station Hotel before following the route of an old railway back to Goathland via the hamlet of Beck Hole. This provided the only disappointment of the weekend as the Birch Hall Inn had closed at 3pm (this is taking olde worlde traditions just a little too far!). At least the Goathland Hotel (aka The Aidensfield Arms of "Heatbeat" fame) was open although there was no sign of any of the regulars!

The next day we met up with my mum, brother and sister-in-law at Levisham and walked across Levisham Moor to the Hole of Horcum (before you ask, I'm not making these names up!). The conveniently positioned Saltersgate Inn, with it's peat fire which has allegedly burned continuously for over 200 years, provided a lunchtime break before we completed the circuit back to Levisham via Skelton Tower. This gave us great views down Newtondale towards our route from the previous day, made even better by the timely appearance of a steam train.

That evening we drove into Whitby and climbed the 199 steps up to the Abbey (appropriately there was a pub called the Duke of York at the bottom!) followed by the best fish and chips in the world!

A great weekend of gentle walking with pubs en-route (not just at the end!) like I used to do before I started doing Munros!! And not a drop of rain!

Steve Morley