THE LYKE WAKE WALK is a complete crossing of the North Yorkshire Moors along their main east-west watershed between the Stone at grid reference 470 994 and the Trig point at 971 012, a distance of approximately 42 miles from Osmotherley to Ravenscar across the moors at its widest point. 

Symbolised by its famous Coffin emblem, the walk and Club as set out by the late Bill Cowley in 1955 lives on.

 Bill originated the concept of the walk with an open challenge in the Dalesman in August 1955 to cross the moors on foot from West to East within 24 hours. At noon on 1st October that year, 10 men and 3 women set out to perform a crossing reaching Ravenscar around 10.30 the next day. The Lyke Wake Club was born (derived from ‘Wake’ – watching over a corpse, ‘Lyke’ – the corpse itself). Anyone having completed, or even attempted the Lyke Wake Walk will be very familiar with its association with the theme of death! The emblem of the coffin associated with the Lyke Wake walk is no accident – and is, of course, totally appropriate as only those who have completed the walk will be fully aware. 

 Recently Ashley Watson the owner of Somerset House Farm and his friend Mark Cameron completed the walk for one of their favourite charitys; The Great North Air Ambulance, and yes it's bloody hard work.  Special thanks to D. Kinsella of the Bluebell Inn, Mr B. Wilde ( DMG Control Systems ), Mr D. Henderson and Mr & Mrs Fellows all residents of our villages of Ingleby Arncliffe and Ingleby Cross for their generosity.

By prior arrangement here at Somerset House Farm we can arrange transport to and from the Lyke Walk Walk aswell as your overnight accomodation. We can also offer a support vechicle and guided walk if required. Please ask Ashley for more details.

Map.  We cannot recommend too highly that you should use the 1:25,000 Ordnance Survey Explorer maps of the North Yorks Moors to help you navigate. The Moors are covered by two sheets, OL26 (west) and OL27 (east), and each map is printed on both sides. These maps are widely available from bookshops and online rertailers.

Weather.  The weather can be extremely varied on the moors and can change quickly. I know this because we had all four seasons in one day when we did it. A pleasant day in Osmotherley can turn nasty up on the moors. The Met Office website has weather forecasts for Leeming (nearest to the western end of the walk), and for Scarborough (nearest to the eastern end) though the Whitby forecast may also be helpful. All these places are on relatively low ground: there are no forecasts for the moors themselves, but there is a weather station right on the walk at Fylingdales where you can see the latest weather observations, updated regularly.