Here are photos from a short recce on the Coast to Coast in the North York Moors. Simon writes:

In October when things are quieter it's a pleasure to take more time to catch up with our B&B owners and hoteliers. In order to link up the CTC route with the various accommodation off-route at Clay Bank Top (where no accommodation is to be had right on the route) I walked a loop that took in the hamlet of Chop Gate to the South. The day was a bright one in early October... surprisingly hot.

As at so many of our stops, much of the charm comes from the hosts themselves. All have stories to tell:

+ The ex-marine and policeman running a superb homely B&B in an interesting old house.
+ The relatively new owners of a village inn, further down the CTC, that serves excellent foot.
+ The charming couple who've offered B&B on the Coast to Coast and Cleveland Way for many years and have seen it all. It was lovely to pop in for a chat again, to digest the season that's about to finish, and to discuss improvements to make for next year.

More than ever when chatting to our B&Bs I realise it's a joint effort amongst Alpine Exploratory, the accommodation and the clients to make the holiday superb.


Belted Galloways in Raisdale, just South of the route


The local building tradition in this part of Yorkshire is to groove diagonally the stone's outer face, to channel rainwater. It's pretty and is seen all over the area.


Above Bilsdale. The Coast to Coast crosses the gap in the middle distance, Clay Bank Top.

Coast to Coast - our full trek