Wainstones, Hasty Bank, Coast to Coast
Top of the Wainstones, looking south over Garfit Gap.
Wain Stones, Hasty Bank, Coast to Coast
The Wainstones are a weathered sandstone craggy outcrop a mile south of Great Broughton, on a hill known as Hasty Bank, and on the northern ridge of the North York Moors. The whaleback plateau of Hasty Bank is accessed via a small scramble through a small rocky pass within the outcrop. There are carvings on some of the Wain Stones, showing cup and ring markings that date back to the Bronze Age, unfortunately now adulterated by modern graffiti. The Coast to Coast path follows the Cleveland Way up to and beyond the Wain Stones, and is paved on the ascent. Hasty Bank lies east of Garfit Gap and Cold Moor and west of Carr Ridge on Urra Moor. Great Broughton is to its north, in the Vale of Mowbray.
Wainstones on Hasty Bank
The summer dressing of the woodlands and moorscape around Urra can be bewitchingly charming. The twin pinnacles are well seen from the south east, e.g. from Urra.
Climbing to the Wainstones
The Wainstones are a natural barrier near the top of Hastby Bank that have the appearance of denying passage any further. A simple scramble, however, will soon see you to the plateau above. There are often large groups of young climbers practicing their climbing skills on these rocks.
Wainstones on Hasty Bank
In addition to the more obvious route through the Wainstones immediately facing the main path, there are many other routes to the plateau on Hasty Bank. Taking one of the alternative routes allows you to view the ancient Stones with different perspectives.
Pinnacles and Buttresses
There are a couple of very popular pinnacles and buttresses used by boulderers. These are very prominent and can be seen from far away from the south and from the west, e.g. from Urra, from Bilsdale, from Cringle End and from Cold Moor.
Wainstones Hasty Bank
The Wainstones stretch a good distance south from Hasty Bank's north west sandstone outcropping. Their relatively low height, and peculiar and jumbled uniformity bring a refreshing change to the unchanging moorscape.
Rock Art and Graffiti
The Wainstones are the boulders and pinnacles forming the obvious outcropping of rocks edging onto the plateau at the top of Hasty Bank, and being directly on the Coast to Coast path. Most of the ancient markings and carvings, though, are not actually within the Wainstones, but in other groups of stones slightly apart from them.
Unusual Markings
This rock was set apart from the Wainstones and has a patterned etching within it. It does not seem to be a modern etching and may be one of those found here that date to the Bronze Age.
Wainstone Engravings, Initials and Dates
This image is part of the main Wainstones outscropping. There is an unusual engraving on the rock at the bottom left and the lower section of the large rock in the centre has initials and a date etched into it.
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.
