The Hambleton Hobble

Q. In about 5 weeks we are doing the Hambleton Hobble or Hambleton Hills (about 32 miles) for charity. My problem is that we have done some of the walk and it is very badly marked out.

Because it is a long walk and probably not too popular there are no clear footpaths.

We have a map and notes to read which we took from the web but the directions are very poor - not telling to go to the left or right. My plea for help is do you know where we can get a better description of the walk?

Regards

Jackqui Keating

A. We completed this round trip recently and strenuous is a good description. It is poorly marked in places and some footpaths even seem obscured. It is delightful where there are views and coming over some of the little wooded footbridges. However I would suggest that it is worth taking some of the attractive detours eg staying on the Cleveland way to take in a tea room or cutting across Thimbleby Moor rather than treking round in the wood. Navigation tips - the route often splits at disused farm buildings. Take care to notice whether you should be above/below/left/ right of them and locate the correct exit path. We used the instructions on tiscali and they needed some interpretation with a map, eg 'when you reach the first obvious junction go straight on' actually appeared to be bearing right when the road turned left. In 2016 the Hare seemed rather upmarket for sandwiches, and the Gold Cup doesn't serve food on a sunday evening but the Inn at Hawnby and the shop and cafe in Osmotherley were very welcoming.

Cathy, Litlington

A. The Hambleton Hobble starts and finishes in Osmotherley in North Yorkshire. At 31 miles (50km) and including some 2,500ft of ascent the route passes through the villages of Osmortherly, Hawnby and Boltby and can be safely descibed as 'strenuous'.

I don't know to much about this one - but understand that a leaflet describing the route is available from: