Posted July 2008
"I recently completed the North York Moors walk having previously done the Lakes and the Dales. I thought you may value some feedback. The walk was generally excellent but I would like to comment on the following:"

"In my opinion the Black Swan and Feversham Arms in Helmsley should not be in The Inn Way, they are just high class hotels. We found quite a few of the pubs closed during the day so normal walking times would mean that a lot of people will miss visiting the pubs. At the Plough Inn Fadmoor, the landlord sat in the pub, but he would still not serve us a drink. At the Royal Oak, Gillamoor, the landlady opened up especially for us. Please make people aware of Hutton Le Hole. My friend was intending to camp here, but the camp site behind the pub does not exist anymore. The only camp site is out of the village and up a steep hill (not what you want after a day’s walking). Luckily he got a room at Burnley House where I was staying. Also, the Crown does not serve food after 7.00pm on a Sunday. Can you believe that!!!??? As most people will probably start on a Sunday they will not get food at Hutton Le Hole Sunday evening."

"The Horseshoe Inn at Levisham has also dispensed with its campsite, but the Staff, service, and food here was excellent. In my opinion none of the pubs in Goathland should be included! The Birch Hole Inn is an experience not to be missed. The Horseshoe Hotel at Egton Bridge is an experience, but again the food was first class. The Feversham Arms at Church Houses was great, and the Sun Inn Bilsdale another experience. The Hawnby Hotel was excellent in terms of service and nice food. The Hare Inn Scawton was closed, but then you cannot have everything I suppose. Final mention for the Crown in Helmsley. They gave us a card which gave us a discount at the Indian Desi's Spice Lounge 2 miles down the road. One of the best Indian's I have ever experienced."

Hope this helps.

Posted June 2008
"I am a member of the LDWA (East Yorkshire group) we do two Wednesdays and one Saturday walk every month, all tend to be 20-mile circular. I received the above book as a birthday present in January, mentioned it at a committee meeting, good idea, organise! Five Wednesdays from 30th April to 25th June. That’s how we did it, some sections back to front, but it is still as wonderful whichever way you look at it. 3 x 20 miles, 2 x 16 miles, approx. 93 miles on GPS so we wandered!"

"Day1 - The bridge at Hodge Beck at Kirkdale is still out, (3 years now, will it be replaced? ). Bridge at Rye House Farm, Harome new bridge now in place 18/6/08. Sunshine,showers and very heavy rain to finish, but all had walked new bits of path."
"Day 2 - No problems, route description spot on, bright and sunny."
"Day 3 - In my opinion the best day, hard but worth it, a fine day views that went on forever."
"Day 4 - No problems, but doing this section in reverse meant that we had a long steep ascent, after we had quenched our thirst at the Sun Inn! Sunny with showers later."
"Day 5 - Another wonderful day, an hours rain around noon, at the end of the day, over a drink in the Feathers, sadness that there wasn’t more of the same to come."

"The best quote came from one of our members with over 50 years of walking behind him, “I am impressed by Mark Reid, he hasn’t taken the easy option he has found the little known footpaths and made an excellent walk”."

Posted Easter 2008
"My partner and I have just completed The Inn Way… to the North York Moors over the Easter period and would like to thank you for providing us with such as wonderful well written, marvelous detailed walking route. We arrived in Helmsley on the afternoon of Friday 21st March having listened to the severe weather warnings for heavy snow for the weekend on various radio stations all the way up from the Midlands. Having visited the fantastic helpful guy in the local tourist information office who walked through the OS map with us for the first few days of the walk and advised that even with heavy snow the thought it would be OK to go ahead, we left the information office with our spirits up and excitement of the 6 walking days ahead. "

"After visiting all the pubs that afternoon and evening, we set off on a very sunny but cold Saturday morning for the start of the walk and wow what a walking week we had. We experienced every weather condition possible for those 6 days, from blinding sunshine where the sunglasses were rapidly dug out from the backpack to heavy snow showers and huge hailstones pelting us to the point of helpless laughter as to how crazy but fun it was to be doing this in these conditions. Every morning the first task was to look out of the window from the cosy rooms we were staying in to give each other a commentary on what the weather was like that morning. We experienced some wonderful scenery, especially snow covered moors where the footpaths were invisible. No other walkers along the way, calling in or staying at the fabulous inns on route with roaring fires, warming delicious food and very hospitable hosts. "

"We visited every inn although the only problem we encountered at all, was the due to our early starts in the morning to ensure that we arrived at our next destination in daylight hours, we were too early for opening time for a few, but took a photo of each inn and did poke our heads around to doors if open to say hello and take a look inside. Although it was hard work on various stretches due to very boggy areas, snow covered footpaths and sometimes having to work out which step to take next so we didn’t slip too much or to gauge how deep our feet may sink, we had a fabulous time and have already bought The Inn Way to the Yorkshire Dales but will order sunshine and longer evenings for that one!!"

Posted June 2007
"Four of us have just 'completed' The Inn Way to the North York Moors, but as 2 of us are over seventy and the other two 69 and 65, we did make a few adjustments, especially as the bank holiday weather was a bit awful! I (who led the expedition) have to say that I have NEVER had instructions to follow that were so clear and easy as in your book. Congratulations on your excellent route descriptions. Just one or two comments: the pub at Gillamoor was closed on a Friday so was no good for lunch, but the pub at Fadmoor was a delight.  So, thanks for the excellent walk."

Posted May 2007
"Just a quick note to thank you enormously for 'The Inn Way to the North York Moors'. Three friends and I completed (most of) it the other day, having really enjoyed your guides to Northumberland last year and the Yorkshire Dales the year before. I think we all agreed this was the best yet - certainly places like the Birch Hall Inn at Beck Hole and the Sun Inn at Spout House were brilliant. We intend to get your Peak District guide and do that next May."

Posted April 2003
"It had nothing to do with finding the Stone Book whilst walking 'The Inn Way to the Yorkshire Dales' last year that had us doing the NorthYork Moors route this year. It's the perfect combination of beer and walking that has always appealed to us. The fact that someone has already planned a great route with many fine pubs along the way just makes it that much easier.

Being over Easter meant we had to book early as a number of B&Bs will only let for two nights. However, a couple of evenings with a pc and phone and we had everything booked. We actually started with Day 6 from Hawnby to Helmsley as Sarah at the rather appropriate Easterside Farm agreed we could leave the car for the week. A visit to the Hawnby Hotel the night we arrived got us off to a fine start. Only the Hare Inn at Scawton en route, so a fairly easy start. Still, we had five pubs in Helmsley to do in the evening. Pity that the Black Swan had no real ale - we had to make do with a G&T.

A leisurely start to Day Two as The Star Inn at Harome is only a couple of miles from Helmsley. After that, the pace had to quicken in order to get to the Plough Inns at Wombleton and Fadmoor. We had to plead to get served at Fadmoor even though it was only 2:45 and closing was supposed to be 3:00. Then failure as the Royal Oak at Gillamoor was closed. We debated about walking back in the evening from Hutton le Hole but in the end didn't. It was to be our only failure. Day Three was a little easier as the New Inn at Cropton is open all day. So, having sat outside the Blacksmiths Arms doing postcards we didn't have to hurry. Good job too as we couldn't resist trying all the beers available. As we had accommodation in Newton-on-Rawcliffe rather than Levisham we had to do the Horseshoe Inn in the evening - not far, but a testing down and up each way.

Goathland on Easter Saturday was a nightmare after our wonderful walk across Levisham and Two Howes moors. After a quick visit to the three pubs there, it was only a short walk to one our favourite watering holes at Beck Hole. Anyone who hasn't been to the Birch Hall Inn has a treat to look forward to. Saturday night we had our only overnight in a pub at The Horseshoe Hotel which we can recommend for the size of the meals as well as the beer. Day Four saw us get an unexpected bonus as we were told that the Moon and Sixpence had been closed. Well, it had been closed all winter but it had just reopened. Good job we went to find out. Praise also for the Arncliffe Arms which was open well before the advertised 12:00. Three pubs in Rosedale in the evening so where to eat? The Milburn Arms was recommended by our landlady so we ate there, however, the food at other two pubs looked equally good.

Easter Monday and our last day. This is by far the hardest day's walking as you cross a number of ridges. To our surprise the Feversham Arms was already open when we arrived just before 12:00 - and already serving food. We had forgotten to check the opening times of the Sun Inn at Bilsdale so we were not sure if we needed to quicken our pace to ensure we arrived by 3:00. Now we really don't approve much of mobile phones and only carry one for emergencies, but then this was one. A quick call from the top of Rudland Rigg, where we finally got a signal, confirmed they were open all day so we could take our time. Finally we were back at Easterside Farm just as the rain arrived after six sunny dry days. We did try our missed pub again but found it closed on Mondays - even the Bank Holiday. Oh the walking - well everyone should know the Moors are a fine walking area that has the advantage - especially at Easter - of not being as crowded as some areas. We, of course, didn't have much time for the views! Our noses were stuck to the ground looking for the Stone Book. No luck this year. Maybe we'll have better luck when we do the Lakes next year."