The Lyke Wake Walk was created by Bill Cowley in 1955 and designed to cross the North Yorks Moors at its widest and highest points. The route runs between Scarth Wood Moor, Osmotherley and Ravenscar on the North Sea Coast. The 40 miles of beautiful moorland in the NYM National Park is one of the countries original ‘challenge’ walks.
Who are we?
Kathy and Den live in Stokesley North Yorkshire within sight of the Cleveland Hills which form part of the Lyke Wake Walk. Kathy has led more than 40 crossings and is passionate about the North Yorks Moors and long distance walking in general. Den does the back up, following groups across the moors and is always a welcome sight at a checkpoint. We’re here to answer all your questions and make sure you are fully prepared for an unforgettable experience and that you complete your crossing safely.
For larger groups we have more than one guide. All our guides are appropriately qualified, have first aid training and are insured.
We do private groups and have several booked in 2025 for local charities - contact us if you’d like to discuss hiring a guide for your crossing.
We offer FREE guided walks come and meet us, you don’t have to cross with us to walk with us. Have a look at our walks https://www.facebook.com/groups/1020372053001344
Why choose us?
We only do the Lyke Wake Walk and do far more crossings than any other commercial organisation.
Open group crossings will have a maximum of 15 walkers, it’s generally 12, we meet as strangers and quickly become a well functioning team.
There’s a WhatsApp group set up for each date where we’ll post training tips and walkers can start to get to know each other.
We’ll give you a full kit list and training schedule.
We offer free training walks on the North Yorks Moors, North Yorkshire coast and the Dales, with a Facebook page where the walks are listed. These are free guided walks, you can join as many as you want and you don’t have to cross with us to join them. https://www.facebook.com/groups/1020372053001344
If your not successful on your first attempt you get a second free and a third at gunpoint! Though we may not be able to offer transport.
Once you’ve crossed with us you can join any open group, subject to availability and not necessarily with transport, free, as many times as you wish. Lots of clients cross with us several times a year.
We supply water, unlimited sugar based snacks and blister plasters.
A free surprise gift at the end of the walk.
Open group dates 2025
We cross in both directions, W-E Osmotherley - Ravenscar and E-W Ravenscar to Osmotherley. On all crossings we meet at 0400 transfer to the opposite end of the walk and walk back.
All dates are £110pp with a £50 non refundable deposit to secure a place. If we can resell your place we’ll give you a full refund, we generally have a waiting list for most dates.
Availability as at 28th March 2025
22nd March E - W FULL
12th April W - E FULL
26th April E -W 1 place available
14th June W -E 4 places available
28th June E - W 1 place available
19th July E - W FULL
2nd August E - W 1 place available
30th August W-E FULL
You can book with us directly or via SiEntries
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My friends 60th birthday gift!
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It was cold.....
FAQ
How long will the walk take - 15 - 18 hours, we walk at the pace of the slowest walker.
How much training will I need - We advise people that for 4 months before the walk you need to be walking 20+ miles a minimum of twice a month. Carry as much as you will be carrying on the day so you’re used to having weight on your back and walk up hills, a lot! Obviously the more training you do the easier it’ll be on the day. We offer free training walks, details on the useful links page.
Kit list - This is on the kit list page.
E - W or W - E The terrain between Blakey Ridge and Ravenscar (half the route) is rough underfoot, from Blakey Ridge to Cod Beck the paths are good, so if you walk E - W you could consider that you do the hardest half first and tackle the rough terrain on fresh legs. Many people cross with us several times to experience both. There are pubs at Osmotherley for that post walk pint! We don’t have a preference, both directions have their good points.
Food - You bring your own food, enough to fuel you for a 40 mile walk, you’ll carry a few snacks with you and the bulk will be in the back up vehicle. We provide lots of snacks and all the water you’ll need on the day.
First aid - your guide will have a full first aid kit and blister plasters. Bring any regular medication you use and some painkillers. We’ll check on any medical conditions before your walk.
Can my supporters meet us at the checkpoints - yes of course, we’ll give you details of where the checkpoints are and rough timings.
Kit list
Layers, have a base layer or T-shirt, a long sleeved top and a light jacket.
If you’re walking in shorts have some trousers with you.
A waterproof jacket.
Something to carry 2 litres of water, water bladders are great and more convenient than bottles.
Socks, 3 or 4 pairs.
If you have them spare walking shoes or boots, if you get your feet wet fresh dry shoe or boots are a game changer.
Walking poles if you use them.
A head or handheld torch.
Any regular medication and painkillers.
Food for the day.
Sun hat and sunscreen.
You won’t have to carry all this, much of it will go in the support vehicle.
What people say about us
We started collecting Google reviews in January 2025 and this is a selection from people who crossed with us in 2024
have a look at our latest ones.
“This was the best thing I did in 2024. To say it’s not easy would be an understatement, we all got a bit sweary in the final hours/miles but Kathy has a unique way of supporting you…not just in making your way across the NYM but also in the training and preparation leading up to it. Den is a welcome sight to see at 3 checkpoints en route with fresh water, plasters, new socks, change of boots, somewhere to sit down and knowing you could stop if you needed to (people rarely do). I recommend unreservedly. Joyce Sutcliffe-Dawson
Highly organised! Kathy and Den provide an unparalleled quality of service, I canont recommend this adventure highly enough. A great mix of knowledge of the route and humour. Tim Lloyd
Kathy provides an excellent service and an enjoyable experience doing the LWW, I would highly recommend using her services and joining her on other walks. Dave Darley
Excellent route made easier by a confident leader. Anne Freeman
Kathy is a very experienced walker and knew the route well. Den provided back up. Despite horrible weather we all completed the walk. I had real fun and throughly enjoyed crossing down in no small part to Kathy and Den. Richard Walton (Jaffa Walton)
A fantastic experience. I really had to push myself towards the end but Kathy was with us every step of the way, encouraging, chatty, kind, funny. Lots of advice and lots of training walks beforehand. Den was a very welcome sight at the pit stops with food, water, dry socks etc. A great team would definitely recommend them. Orinda Elliott
I enjoyed the walks so much I did it twice, I’m planning on some future crossings and they will be with Kathy and Den, brilliant guide and support, very well organised can’t fault them, thanks Kathy and Den, see you both again soon. Lee Walker
My first crossing in May 2024 was East to West and I loved every minute of it. Superbly led by Kathy who’s knowledge of this route and countless others in the area is second to none. Thanks also to Den our back up kit carrier who met us at prearranged check points, a welcome sight knowing he had my dry boots and socks. Can’t wait to do it again. Pete Wilkinson
An AMAZING experience. Kathy (aka Superwoman) did a fabulous job in guiding me, supporting me and inspiring me along the route. Every little detail was thought through and I can not praise this experience enough. Liz Barrett
Have a look at our Google reviews, we only started collecting them in January 2025 and can’t find a way to embed them in the website!
Useful links
For lots more information about the walk visit www.lykewake.org
If you find that you enjoy long distance walking look at The Long Distance Walkers Association. They have local groups all over the country and numerous challenge events which are excellent value. Many people refer to the Lyke Wake Walk as a ‘gateway walk’ and have subsequently joined Kathy on LDWA 50 mile walks and a couple are signed up for the 2025 100 so be careful! ldwa.org.uk
We’re negotiating a discount on local accommodation for people who are crossing with us and will update the page with those details soon.
You can book a luxury adult only shepherd hut with a private hot tub with www.inclineviewholidays.co.uk These are on a working farm in the most glorious location. The owners have a private crossing with Kathy in June 2025, so they’ll know your pain! 10% discount for people crossing with us.
Gallery
Saturday 22nd March 2025 Anna, Anne, Dave, Kellie, Sarah-Jane, Thea, Mike, Joyce and Jawaid. The first crossing of the year, half of the walk was done in horrendous rain and they were all magnificent.
Contact us.
kathyfinkel6@icloud.com
07846 941593
1, Roseberry Avenue, Stokesley, North Yorkshire TS9 5HE