Rosedale Head, Coast to Coast
Historical and Educational Articles for Lion Inn to Grosmont
Looking down Rosedale Head to the disused Rosedale Railway track rounding the head of the Valley
Rosedale Head, Rosedale, Coast to Coast
Rosedale Moor is located to the south of Glaisdale Moor. To its west is Rosedale Valley which extends from Rosedale Head southwards, and includes Rosedale Abbey, the largest village in the Valley. Rosedale Head is at the north of the valley, and it is traversed by the Coast to Coast path, which extends from the Margery Bradley Stone on its west to the White Cross on its north. The Lion Inn is only 1 mile further south of Rosedale Head. Westerdale Moor and High Blakey Moor are a couple of miles west of Rosedale Head.
Dogger, or Ironstone, Mining and Coal Mining were rife in Rosedale during the 19th and 20th centuries, and the Coast to Coast path, as it crosses Rosedale Head, passes some of the disused coal mines and their spoil heaps. The coal was used to process the iron. Iron Stone Mining in this area actually began with the Romans between AD 43 and AD 410. A railway was created in the 19th century to transport iron to Teeside, where it could be further processed.
Lion Inn from Rosedale Head
The Lion Inn is just more than 1 mile from the White Cross on the far side of Rosedale Head.The Inn is perched on the roadside on High Blakey Moor overlooking Rosedale Head and from where there are terrific views along the Rosedale Valley.
Coast to Coast Rosedale Head
The Coast to Coast path on Rosedale Head is about 1 mile long. It is not very clear in some places but once onto the path, on a clear day, the upright signage near the White Cross can be seen and the route to it worked out easily enough. This is where the path emerges onto the Rosedale Road, which is followed by the Coast to Coast as far as Seavy Hill.
Westerdale Boundary Stone
There are a number of Boundary Stones crossing Rosedale Head, which follow a similar line to the Coast to Coast path. These have the name Westerdale on one side and Spaunton on the other.
Old Coal Mine Rosedale Head
Rosedale Head has scores of disused coal mines, in contrast to the Rosedale Iron mines which were further south in the valley. The coal was used to fire the huge kilns further south along the east valley wall, and thus enabling the iron to be calcined, or roasted, driving off most of its impurities.
Water Filled Coal Pit
Land owners in Rosedale obtained wayleave agreements which allowed them to be paid for each ton of iron carried by their trains. The mine owners found it cheaper to smelt the iron on site so that the ore transported was divested of most of its impurities. Accordingly, coal mines appeared whenever it was discovered near to the iron mines and iron quarries.
Rosedale Head
From the Coast to Coast path on Roseale Head there is a choice view down the Rosedale Valley towards Rosedale Abbey. The disused rail path can be seen retiring along each valley side. The western track now terminates at Bank Top, 1/4 mile south west of Rosedale Abbey. The eastern path now terminates at Hill Cottages 1 mile north west of Rosedale Abbey.
Coast to Coast Trail Guide
Hiking the Coast to Coast
"Hiking the Coast to Coast" is a digitally enhanced eBook available from Apple Books for all people who have either a Mac, an iPhone or an iPad, and is designed to accompany you on your walk of the Coast to Coast path. The trail guide contains Ordnance Survey maps and other advanced mapping features, step by step directions, hundreds of colour photographs, details of the route, its conditions in different weather and research snippets relating to places of interest along the way.
