'Willy Howe'

Week 17   'Willy Howe' Neolithic burial mound

This very large burial mound is situated between the East Yorkshire villages of Burton Fleming and Wold Newton. It's position is on a hillside in the 'Great Wold Valley' about 200 metres above the Gypsey Race, an intermittent stream that flows along the valley from near Duggleby to the sea at Bridlington. The mound is 15 metres high and stands out strongly in the otherwise gently rolling landscape. It was excavated in the 1800's when a central burial cist was discovered with flint chips and animal bones. A fantastic burial mound and when stood close, it is not hard to imagine why there are many legends attached to the place.

The Rudston Standing Stone

Week 16  The Rudston Megalith (Huge Stone)

Standing 25 feet high (7.6 metres) in Rudston churchyard five miles west of Bridlington is the Rudston standing stone. It dates back to somewhere around 1600 BC in the late neolithic age and is the largest standing stone in the UK, weighing in about 40 tons. Like Stonehenge, the stone is not obtained locally; in this case the nearest type of stone is nearly 10 miles away! The fact that it is in the churchyard suggests that this has been a place of some form of worship for a lot longer than the present Norman church has stood here.

The Shambles, York

Week 15  The Shambles, York

A long time since I visited York with a camera. Driffield Photographic Society have a 'Cuppa and Capture' day each month. We start with a cuppa and/or lunch and then take some photographs on a theme and so I found myself wandering the streets of York. Classic view of The Shambles I know, but I still get a buzz walking down the street.

Selby Abbey

Week 14 Selby Abbey

We decided to have a day out in Selby and although I had worked around the town, I had never been in the Abbey. The history tells us that between 1069 and 1539 the Abbey was ruled by 35 Abbots. It fell at the Dissolution but the Church was left standing. The last Abbot was Robert Rogers (could be a relation) who was a good friend of King Henry VIII (hmmm). I liked the position of Selby Abbey in the heart of the town. The interior has a very local feel.

St. Hilda's Church, Ellerburn

Week 13  St. Hilda's Church, Ellerburn

This the first time I had walked from Thornton le Dale to the Forestry Commission visitor centre at Low Dalby and back. I was quite surprised by the large number of mountain bikers, which did not make for a nice peaceful walk. It reminded me of the thousands (yes thousands) of mountain bikers from the Glasgow & Edinburgh catchment area that descend on the Glentress Forest every weekend and the constant sound of sirens as the ambulance service pick up the pieces. How long before Dalby echoes to the same?
We walked up one side of the Dalby beck and back down the other. One of the highlights was the Church at Ellerburn, founded in 1050, it has some traces of a Viking cross in-laid in the stonework to the right of the porch. A little gem, set in a beautiful steep wooded valley.

The south side of Filey Brigg

Week 12  Filey Brigg

Took a walk along Filey Brigg and returned via the shoreline path, just visible in the picture (the tide was going out). I was taken by the beauty of the coastal erosion on the south side, how it has scared the landscape and in doing so created wonderful crevices. It did make me wonder how long it would be before this landmark 'melted' to the hard rock just above the water line.