Burniston and Thirley Cotes

12:13pm Wednesday 2nd July 2008

Comments (0)   Have your say »

DOTTED around our coastal villages you will frequently find reference to a rocket field. The field was used by the local volunteer coastguards to practice their skills of firing a rocket at a wreck post, or rocket post.

The post was erected and shaped to replicate a ship’s mast. In the days before helicopter rescue at sea, sailors from ships which were wrecked near the shore had a chance of rescue by the coastguard. A small rope would be attached to the rocket and fired at the ship in distress. This would then allow a larger rope to be pulled across by the crew and secured to the mast, the lifesavers attached the other end to a frame anchored in the sand. The breeches buoy, a lifebelt fitted with canvas trousers underneath, was pulled across to the stranded ship and the crew rescued one by one, their feet often bouncing along the waves.

Before the rocket was invented, a line throwing mortar was used but in 1805 Sir William Congreve demonstrated a military rocket with a greater range. In 1806 Congreve’s rocket was used against the French fleet off Boulogne. It was then adapted for use by the coastguards. The rocket had a range of about 2.5km. The rocket was not perfect as it was inaccurate and liable to explode prematurely.

I remember the rockets being fired many times on a summer’s evening in the 1950s at the Burniston rocket field. The field and rocket post was along Rocks Lane half way up the hill on the right. The rocket was fired across a gulley at the rocket post, what a spectacle!

Your route.

Head off towards the Three Jolly Sailors pub adjacent to the roundabout in Burniston. Opposite the pub is a bridleway sign directing you past the Coastguard Station shed on South View. Walk past the houses then enter a field through a gate. Keep straight ahead to the top of the field. Watch your step – this is a favourite dog walking area. Pass through a gate at the top of the field turning right. Pass a couple of waymarks then turn left into a field. Keep close to the hedge on the right and walk to the end of the field, go left for a few paces then right through a gateway into another field. Go immediately left now then at the hedge go right along a wider track climbing upwards. Follow this wide track to a gate to leave the field at the road. Cross the road and enter a field over a stile following the direction of the footpath sign diagonally across the field. If crops are blocking your way take the road.

When you leave the field turn left to walk uphill. At the crossroads turn right along Beacon Road towards the Thompson enterprises. Keep on this byway passing a couple of farms to eventually reach the road. Go right here downhill onto a quiet country road. Enjoy the views as you descend then at the farms zigzag your way past them to soon reach a T- junction. Go right here and keep on this quiet road to eventually reach a very steep downhill with sharp bends. At the bottom bear left signed to Burniston. Keep on as far as the speed limit signs. Leave the road here to go left towards a ford and small footbridge. Go past the houses until the road ends then enter the quarry turning right. Keep on this sometimes muddy path almost to the end of the quarry then go right into a field. Cross the field then enter a lane past the cemetery to the main road. Cross the road with care to walk along the road opposite, Station Road. At the old railway station go right past the café to the railway path. When you reach a bridge over a road cross it then go right down the path to join the road. Bear left onto the road to walk back to Burniston and a welcome pint.

The facts.

Distance: 8 miles/13km.

Time: 3 hours.

Start/parking: Three Jolly Sailors pub, Burniston, pictured right. There is no car park at Burniston but there are some quiet side roads, grid ref: 013929.

Best map: OS Landranger 101.

Refreshments: Three Jolly Sailors pub and the Oakwheel pub.

Public toilets: none.

Guide book: Short walks around Yorkshire’s coast and countryside by J Brian Beadle, published by Trailblazer at £2.50. Available bookshops, NYMR railway stations, Ryedale Rambler and tourist information centres.