The Lyke Wake Walk

Whats included?

Your en-suite accommodation with breakfast

Help and on-going support before and during your walking holiday.

A walking itinerary (self-guided) covering places of historic significance or areas of outstanding natural beauty.

Transport to and from a walking location if needed.

The relevant Explorer Ordnance Survey map provided

Trail guide cards or LWW guidebook

A detailed itinerary with recommended lunch breaks at select pubs, tearooms or cafes.

Local folklore, myths and things of historic relevance

Seasonal nature guide book or cards for identifying the abundance of wild flowers, trees and wildlife

Emergency backup and support if needed

On completion of your walk we will take you to the nearest railway station if travelling by train. If you came by car we will take you to your car.

Travel Information

The following travel information may come in useful when planning your trip.

By Air - The most convenient major city and international airports are Leeds-Bradford, Manchester and Durham Tees Valley.

By Rail – Travel to York, we will pick you up and take you to your first nights’ accommodation

By Bus - Various bus services run to Osmotherley and from Ravenscar if that’s your preferred choice of travel.

From London - Trains run from London Kings Cross station to York on a regular basis.

Full description

The Lyke Wake Walk is a 40 mile self guided crossing of the North York Moors from the village of Osmotherley to the west and Ravenscar on the east coast. Wake – meaning watching over a corpse and Lyke – the corpse itself is where the name originates, and on this route you will see evidence of many ancient burial mounds known as tumulus or howes. The LWW is one of the most popular challenges on the North York Moors, and since its creation in 1955 literally tens of thousands of people have made the crossing, the record by one man is over 150 crossing and probably counting.

The official starting point is the Lyke Wake Stone, just past the reservoir on the outskirts of Osmotherley and finishes at the Lyke Wake Stone on Beacon Howes, Ravenscar. The route commands exceptional views from Carlton Bank and Hasty Bank, with several short steep (ish) climbs. You cross the Roman Road on Wheeldale Moor, and you encounter several moors crosses including Ralph’s Cross at Rosedale Head, Fat Betty and Lilla Cross, an early example of Christian Sculpture dated back to Edwin, King of Northumbria in 633AD. When you arrive at Jugger Howe you sense victory and the finish at Beacon Howes beckons.

Prices are based on two people sharing en-suite accommodation, staying on a bed & breakfast basis. This walking holiday includes all luggage transfers, accommodation & transport to and from the trail for each days walking.

We do advise taking this walking holiday in the late Spring/Summer months to avoid the boggy section from Rosedale Head and Shunner Howe

The Lyke Wake Walk Challenge

Bill Cowley created the LWW in 1955 and issued a challenge to walkers to cross the moors on foot from east to west within a 24 hour period. On the 1^st October 1955, 10 men and 3 women set out at noon to perform the first crossing. They arrived in Ravenscar at about 10.30 the following day, and the lyke Wake Walk was born.

Over the past few years Walk Yorkshire founder Kevin has personally taken 7 groups over and done the challenge 4 times himself solo and ran it twice. So if any groups or individuals are looking to do the challenge we operate a guided and self-guided option, the guided option is primarily to keep you on track with time and pacing. Please enquire if you want to do the challenge, if you are a charity and wish to do the walk to raise funds or you support a particular charity get in touch we offer very special rates for these events and help with a support crew vehicle so you travel light and get fed and watered. 

Highlights of the walk

Spectacular viewpoints across the North York Moors and Teesside to the north

Moors crosses including Ralph’s Cross, emblem of the NY Moors National Park

Urra Moor –the highest point on the North York Moors

The Roman Road at Wheeldale

Ancient burial grounds

Accomodation details

One of the reasons our customers choose Walk Yorkshire walking holidays is for our choice of authentic and high quality accommodation across the region.

Walk Yorkshire Holidays prides itself on the quality and authenticity of the accommodation, and all our venues are chosen by Kevin, the Walk Yorkshire founder, all the hotels, guest houses and B&B’s selected ouze Yorkshire hospitality and are all situated in idyllic country villages. Your accommodation for this walk is situated in the North York Moors villages of Osmotherley and Goathland, at these hotels we know that you will be well looked after, the rooms are lovingly unique, individual and bursting with charm. So come the end of an energetic day and you are craving comfort after a long walk over the moor, discard those boots and enjoy the moment with traditional local dishes, flavoursome food, fine ales all set in a cosy atmosphere.   

Once we have confirmed this holiday is available we will contact you with further details regarding your accommodation and a suggested itinerary.

Price breakdown

The Lyke Wake Walk is offered as a 3 or 4 night self guided walking break, and is available all year round but we strongly recommend spring/summer months due to the boggy section of the route at Rosedale Head to Hamer. You may start your break on any day of the week pending availability. All prices quoted are based on 2 people sharing on a bed and breakfast basis.

Prices:

3 night stay £320 per person

4 night stay £395 per person

There is a group discount of 10% for groups of 4 or more adults.

*For singles or groups of more than 10 wanting to book with us, please contact us via the online form here.