Day 2/3 Cleveland Way (section of the Way) 43.5km - Slapewath to Saltburn by-the-sea - 22 Dec 2009

A refreshing morning indeed. Imagine waking up with snow all around the hotel...so peaceful...so pure...so fairy-tale like. A cooked breakfast (Haddock and poached egg) served in the restaurant downstairs sparked up my morning. :) After a quick shower, I checked out of the hotel and began my 2nd day of hike.


The Way left Slapewath on a small path and started climbing very steeply through woodland. There was uncertainty with the choice of the actual route: had to follow footprints left behind in the snow. Some scrambling was required. Fun yet difficult climb (slippery)!








The next section was easy and clear. It passed a farm and the road took me to Skelton Green (small town). I proceeded on to Skelton (a bigger town) and got 'lost' there. Followed a road blindly which led me off-route. Had to eventually make a detour, losing some time.

















The Way left Skelton's housing estate and I arrived at a steep wooded valley on the outskirts of Saltburn. It was a horrible terrain: paths were so icy and these paths were not levelled. I took very small and cautious steps which felt endless! It was so frustrating till I finally crossed Skelton Beck (river) and passed under a large railway viaduct when it got slightly better. Soon after, I turned into Saltburn, leaving the scary ordeal behind.











I was greeted by the beautiful coastline and cliffs, watching over the great North Sea. I thought that the North York Moors' coastline seem to look better than the Northumberland one. When finding my way to the B&B (Brydene Guest House), I realised the ordeal was not over yet. The roads and pavements were just as icy and I had to cling on the side railings/ walls as I struggled to walk without slipping. The B&B was quite an old house, but it was good enough for me, considering the fact that it was ensuite too, with a TV, and I didn't pay much for it. Dinner was some canned food from the supermarket, and I started drinking cough syrup as my throat had become from bad to worse, and it was hurting terribly by then. Flu had started to set in too. It was probably caused by the snowfight back in Newcastle a few days ago when I swallowed some 'dirty' snow then. Eeeek!