Day 107 – Robin Hood’s Bay to Scarborough

The day dawns a little chillier than yesterday, but still fine and dry. After a good breakfast, we’re on our way shortly before 8:30, and are soon warmed by the long climb up a series of steps at the edge of the coastal slope to the south of Robin Hood’s Bay. Once at the top, we don’t have too much time walking on the flat before a couple of steep descents and ascents to and from sea level at the wonderfully named Boggle Hole (passing a very smart looking youth hostel) and at Stoupe Beck. Once back on the cliff top, the path continues to climb, then diverts away from the coast and goes round part of a rather under-manicured golf course before reaching the Raven Hall Hotel at Ravenscar. It appears that the hotel is in the process of renovation and that its sole function today is to host in its grounds some kind of classic car convention. This merits only the most cursory of glances as we walk past the hotel and back to the cliff top. Unfortunately, after a few more minutes, Ben experiences the same discomfort which he felt yesterday afternoon, so again he and Gary walk slightly inland to complete the 8 or 9 miles to the front at Scarborough along a pretty flat cycle track, whilst John and Mike continue along the coastal path with its periodic ups and downs. As with yesterday’s “separation”, the cycle track for the most part runs parallel to the coast, but the distances of the two routes today are pretty much the same. Therefore, on this occasion, Ben and Gary arrive at the Scarborough sea front, by a bench just below the rather smart North Cliff Golf Club, 10 or 15 minutes before John and Mike. We walk on together around the North Bay, and Gary then realises that he’s left his walking pole, fondly known as Sticky, by the bench. However, that’s now a good mile behind us so there isn’t the time (or, indeed, the inclination) to effect the Sticky recovery exercise which was last required at the refuge hut on the Pennine Way back at the end of 2016. Instead, we continue Sticky-less for about another mile around the north bay and finish, just before 2:30, on the sea front below the Grand Hotel. A 15/20 minute walk up the hill, through some gardens and along a few streets, brings us to the station about 50 minutes before our train to York is due to leave. Plenty of time to sample the delights of the bar of the Victoria Hotel opposite the station. Those delights comprise the customary couple of beers/ciders and, for some, a sandwich. The train leaves promptly and arrives in York in time for John, and Ben and Gary, to catch their respective connecting trains, despite John getting unusually exercised about the location of his arrival and departure platforms. Our tour of Yorkshire seaside resorts is due to resume in three weeks time.