Guided Heritage Walks for 2021/2022
News from Loftus ACCORD Walking Group
It's been a busy few months for Loftus ACCORD Walking Group, with several guided walks taking place as well as work on footpaths around the Loftus area. The group has also been distributing copies of the four walks leaflets it produced with funding from Awards for All. It's planned and led six guided walks so far this year, with a total of some 150 walkers taking part; the group also delivered walks for Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council's Summer 2018 Walking Festival.
Footpath repair and enhancement work has been taking place in locations such as Swalwell Wood, Handale and along the path between Liverton and Waupley. This work has involved close collaboration with the borough council and the North York Moors National Park Authority. Marshall Best, Chair of the group says "Loftus Parish was awarded Walkers are Welcome status in 2015 and since then volunteers have worked hard to provide walks, keep paths in good condition and promote the district as a place for visitors and local residents to appreciate and enjoy. We also work with the borough council to put on weekly health walks that start outside Loftus Library at 1.15pm on Fridays.( Currently leaving from outside Loftus Town Hall due to Government restrictions ). New walkers are very welcome to join us on a choice of a short or longer walk."
There's free parking at South View off North Road TS13 4JL; Loftus is served by Arriva buses X4 and 5. No booking is needed for these walks; for more information phone 01287 641000 or email office@loftustc.co.uk For more general information about walking in the Loftus area, please visit www.walkingloftusandthenorthyorkshirecoast.com or email info@walkingloftusandthenorthyorkshirecoast.com
A Merry Christmas and a Happy and Healthy 2021 from all at Loftus ACCORD Walking Group We will endeavour to put a program of walks together for 2021 even if we have to cancel a walk at the last minute due to Government restrictions.
2021
3S's Walk, Thursday 13th May
Scenery steel and sea, Please meet outside Loftus Town Hall, Loftus Market Place, TS13 4HG for a 10.30 start.
Come on a free guided walk, through Rosecroft wood over the railway viaduct to Kilton Lane, Carlinhow and down to Skinningrove Jetty where we will stop for a lunch break ( please bring light refreshments if required}, returning to Loftus via The Cleveland Street Trail to North Terrace and North Road.
Arriva bus services 5 and x4 run through Loftus Market Place and there is a free public car park at South View, signed from the market place.
Bluebell Walk, May 18th 2021
Please meet outside Loftus Town Hall, Loftus Market Place, TS13 4HG for a 10.30 start.
We shall head south to Loftus Wood to observe the display of Bluebells and other wild flowers, we will stop for a short break around in Handale Abbey walled garden, returning to Loftus via Liverton Village and Rosecrft wood, so please bring light refreshments if required and wear suitable clothing and foot wear for off road walking. Arriva bus services 5 and x4 run through Loftus Market Place and there is a public carpark at South view, signed from market place.
Tuesday 15th June 2021 – Geology walk
There is a free guided walk starting from Errington Woods public car park at NZ 618203 on Tuesday 15th. June at 10:30 am
Mr. Alan Simkins , Geologist , will lead the walk where we shall examine some of the rock forma1ons which have had their origins traced back in 1me to the Jurassic Period of Earths history
Walkers are requested to wear sturdy boots, bring light refreshments and have waterproof clothing if needed.
Tuesday 13th July 2021 – Geology walk
There is a free guided walk starting from the slipway adjoining Ship Inn , Saltburn on Tuesday 13th. July at 11:00 am
Mr. Alan Simkins , Geologist , will lead the walk where we shall examine the strata along the section of coastline towards Skinningrove and also look for erratics which , if found , could help us identtify their point of origin.
Walkers are requested to wear wellington boots and a walking stick is recommended Please bring light refreshments and have waterproof clothing if needed.
No booking needed ; for more information phone 01287 641000 or e-mail office@lotustc.co.uk or alternatavely info@walkinglotusandthenorthyorkshirecoast.com
Loftus ACCORD Walking Group-Guided Walk Tuesday 24th August 2021
Visit to early Neolithic site near Street House
There is a free guided walk startng from Loftus Town Hall on Tuesday 24th. August at 11:00 am
We shall join Dr.Stephen Sherlock and his team who are engaged in archaeological studies at the site of the earliest commercial salt processing facility in Western Europe.
Dr.Sherlock will provide us with an update on recent investigations at this site and we will also have the opportunity to see a demonstration of flint knapping and gain an understanding of this very ancient craft from specialist flint knapper, John Lord.
Information obtained at this site together with current investigations are now considered to be of significant national interest as it represents a transitional step from people engaged in hunting and gathering to a settled productive community.
Walkers are requested to wear sturdy shoes or boots. Please bring light refreshments and have waterproof clothing if needed.
Lo6us Market Place is served by Arriva X4 and 5 buses.
No booking needed ; for more information phone 01287 641000 or e-mail office@loftustc.co.uk or alternatively info@walkingloftusandthenorthyorkshirecoast.com
Loftus ACCORD Walking Group – Thursday 26th August – 4.5 mile Guided Walk
There is a free guided walk from Loftus Town Hall to Hummersea Alum Quarries on Thursday 26th August starting at 10:30 am
With Geologist , Alan Simkins we shall visit the moonscape like terrain which provides the visible evidence of the Alum industry which spanned the period from 1650 to 1863.
From deep within the Alum and Cement shales were extracted the fossilised remains of a Pterosaur, Rhomaleosaurus Zetlandicus , donated to York Museum in 1852 and Plesiosaurus.
Bring your magnifying lens to examine specimen fragments of fossilised reptiles which inhabited planet earth up until their extinction during the Cretaceous period some 66 million years ago.
We shall walk along established paths into the quarry area . Walkers are requested to wear sturdy boots, bring light refreshments and have waterproof clothing if needed.
Loftus Market Place is served by Arriva X4 and 5 buses.
No booking needed; for more information phone 01287 641000 or e-mail info@walkingloftusandthenorthyorkshirecoast.com
Saturday 11th September loftus Town Hall - depart 1pm
Free guided Walk to early Neolithic site near Street Houses. Dr.Sherlock will meet us on arrival and inform the group of the current understanding of the beginnings of salt processing in Western Europe
Walkers are requested to wear sturdy boots, bring light refreshments and have waterproof clothing if needed.
Loftus Market Place is served by Arriva X4 and 5 buses.
No booking needed ; for more information phone 01287 641000 or e-mail
Fungi Exploration Walk 12th October 2021
We are delighted to advise that Mr.Alan Simkins , Fungi Recorder , N.E.England , has kindly arranged to lead us on a Fungi exploration walk in the Warren Woodland on South Town Lane , Loftus on Tuesday 12th October . We shall meet outside Loftus Town Hall for 10:30 am start and will walk up to the woodland area to join Alan at around 11 am. Loftus Woodands have revealed rich and diverse species of Fungi of which many are indicators of climate change and we shall look forward to learning more from this Kingdom which surrounds us. We shall also have the opportunity to look for and observe Bryophytes and Lichen distributions in the area. Bring your magnifying lens to examine specimen pores and patterns. We shall walk along a rural road into the woodland area . Walkers are requested to wear sturdy boots, bring light refreshments and have waterproof clothing if needed.
Loftus Market Place is served by Arriva X4 and 5 buses. No booking needed ; for more information please phone 01287 641000 or e-mail
info@walkingloftusandthenorthyorkshirecoast.com
2022
Thursday 17th March
Dear all,
We would be delighted if you could join us on a short walk through Loftus New Community Woodland to see the final stages of completion of the project. The weather forecast is favourable with sunny conditions with moderate breeze and a Temperature around 7 Dec.C
New growth is emerging and birds are competing for space in the pond area
With best wishes,
Marshall
Saturday 7th May Loftus Bluebells Walk
Come on a guided walk on Saturday 7th May to spot Bluebells and other Spring flowers in bloom. Starting outside Loftus Town Hall at 10.30am, this walk takes you through local woods; please be prepared for muddy conditions. You need a good level of fitness for this circular walk of about six miles that includes stiles, descents and climbs. There's a lunchtime stop at Liverton Village Hall where soup, roll and tea can be purchased for £5. There's free parking at South View off North Road, Loftus TS13 4JL; the town is served by Arriva X4 and 5 buses. This walk is organised by Loftus ACCORD Walking Group. No booking is needed; for more information phone 01287 641000 or email : info@walkingloftusandthenorthyorkshirecoast.comgraph.
Loftus ACCORD Walking Group – Tuesday 7th June – 4.5 mile Guided Walk
There is a free guided walk from Loftus Town Hall to Hummersea Alum Quarries on Tuesday 7th June starting at 10:30 am.
With Geologist , Alan Simkins we shall visit the moonscape like terrain which provides the visible evidence of the Alum industry which spanned the period from 1650 to 1863. From deep within the Alum and Cement shales were extracted the fossilised remains of a Pterosaur, Rhomaleosaurus Zetlandicus , donated to York Museum in 1852 and Plesiosaurus. Bring your magnifying lens to examine specimen fragments of fossilised reptiles which inhabited planet earth up until their extinction during the Cretaceous period some 66 million years ago.
We shall walk along established paths into the quarry area . Walkers are requested to wear sturdy boots, bring light refreshments and have waterproof clothing if needed.
Loftus Market Place is served by Arriva X4 and 5 buses. No booking needed; for more information phone 01287 641000 or e-mail info@walkingloftusandthenorthyorkshirecoast.com
.NEOLITHIC CHEESE MAKING DEMONSTRATION AND TASTING 10th.AUGUST 2022
.A filmed event demonstrating Neolithic Cheesemaking will take place near the Saltern discovery site at Streethouse on 10th August 2022.
The demonstration will be presented by Dr Penny Bickle, a researcher at the University of York.
L.A.W.G. will lead a visiting group which will depart from Loftus Town Hall at 2:15 pm for arrival on site at around 3 pm.
This demonstration will inform us of the recipes and procedures used at this very early stage of dairy farming and provide an insight into the critical step of cheese and milk preservation and the pottery used to store and transport it.
We shall walk along surfaced roads. Please wear clothes appropriate for the day and bring fluids to ensure effective hydration.
Further enquiries can be made at info@walkingloftusandthenorthyorkshirecooast.com
Walk to an early Neolithic Archaeological Dig
Dear Friends,
A walk has been arranged to the Streethouse Saltern site on Saturday 20th August where we shall receive an update on studies currently underway by Dr.Sherlock and his team. This is the second of three visits planned.
We shall depart from Loftus town Hall at 1:30 pm for arrival around 2 pm. We trust that you will be available to join us
Loftus ACCORD Walking Group – Guided walk Sunday 4th September 2022
Visit to early Neolithic Saltern site near Street House
There is a free guided walk starting from Loftus Town Hall on Sunday 4th. September at 1:15 pm
We shall arrive at the site around 2 pm to join Dr.Stephen Sherlock and his team who are engaged in archaeological studies at the site of the earliest commercial salt processing facility in Western Europe.
Dr.Sherlock will provide us with an update on current investigations which represents the start of a singular thread of continuity of commercial salt production from 3750 BCE to the present day with ICL Boulby extracting and processing Polysulphate from the ancient Zechstein Sea bed.
Information already obtained at this site together with current investigations are now considered to be of significant national and international interest as it represents a transitional step from people engaged in hunting and gathering to a settled productive community and the beginnings of dairy farming and cheesemaking.
Walkers are requested to wear sturdy shoes or boots. Please bring light refreshments and have waterproof clothing if needed.
Loftus Market Place is served by Arriva X4 and 5 buses.
No booking needed ; for more information phone 01287 641000 or e-mail office@loftustc.co.uk or alternatively info@walkingloftusandthenorthyorkshirecoast.com
M.Best 29.7.2022
Cleveland Street Trail
We welcome walkers to join Loftus ACCORD Walking Group on a guided walk along the ancient Cleveland Street path from Loftus to Gisborough Priory on Thursday 8th September. This 8.5 mile linear walk starts at 10:15 am outside Loftus Town Hall
We shall follow the steps of the Augustinian Monks who lived and worked on this land for over 400 years.
Walkers are requested to arrange own transport home after the walk. There is a regular bus service back to Loftus from Guisborough Market Place using Arriva no.5 bus
Free parking at South View off North Road TS13 4JL; Loftus is served by Arriva X4 and 5 buses. No booking is needed for this walk; for more information phone 01287 641000 or email info@walkingloftusandthenorthyorkshirecoast.com
Loftus ACCORD Walking Group will be leading four of the walks during Redcar and Clevelands Summer Walking Festival
Thursday 6th October 2022
Our 2022 Fungi exploration walk which will take place on Thursday 6th October departing Loftus Town Hall at 10:30 am to walk to Warren Wood on South Town Lane where we shall join Alan Simkins , North East Fungi Recorder, to identify the different variety of Fungi in this area.