Australia Day is on January 26 and commemorates the arrival of the first fleet at Sydney Cove and the hoisting of the British flag.
It was at 4am on May 13, 1787, that the first fleet of 11 ships set sail from Portsmouth for Botany Bay with a pathetic human cargo. They were on their way to establish the first British settlement of convicts in Australia.
Of the three store ships supporting the convoy, two were built in Whitby: HMS Fishburn and HMS Golden Grove. On board the Golden Grove, along with its cargo of supplies, was the Rev Johnson, who was to be the first chaplain to the colony.
Overcrowding in British prisons forced the authorities to find a way to rid the country of its felons. Transportation overseas was the answer. The main body of the fleet carried 759 convicts, 191 of whom were female. They landed at Botany Bay which was the first choice for a settlement. But they found it unsuitable and sailed on to Sydney Cove before hoisting the British flag.
Its job done, the Golden Grove left Australia in 1788, visiting the Falkands on the way back to give time for its sick scurvy-ridden crew to recover, before arriving in England on June 9, 1789. It was then registered in Newcastle in 1793 and later in Liverpool in 1799 where it sailed to Jamaica on the ‘Rum Run’.
The Golden Grove disappeared from records in 1804, but there is a report of a merchant ship of the same name being wrecked off Portland around this time. Perhaps it was the same ship.
But the name of this little sailing ship lives on, and you will pass nearby the Golden Grove as you cycle to Ruswarp from Whitby. It is not a ship but a wood, a rather pretty area of our countryside with a name which gives memory to an ordinary sailing ship from Whitby.
This short cycle ride is a test of skills with very narrow roads and serious ascents and descents. I am sure you will enjoy the experience, but take care.
Your route
Leave the car park bearing right downhill. Keep on this road for two miles and at the church, go right to soon reach the A171. Cross with care and cycle along the road opposite signed to Stainsacre.
Up a short hill now to cross a bridge over the old Scarborough to Whitby railway line, then downhill into Stainsacre village.
Turn left here signed to Sneatonthorpe and Sneaton onto a narrow, gravely road. Watch out for the steep descent. Cycle along uphill, following signs for Sneatonthorpe and Ruswarp. Take care along this road. There are several steep, slippery descents and sharp corners to negotiate. Keep straight ahead until, after a short hill, go left at the blue cycle sign, onto a very narrow uphill road.
Continue along past the odd farm or two until you meet the B1416. Go right here to Red Gate Corner. Leave the B1416, taking the third left turn onto a very narrow road, then start to descend.
This is a serious descent which gets steeper, almost vertical as you ride along. You will need good brakes as the corners are as ferocious as the descent.
If you survive, you reach a junction. I suggest you go left here to the village hall car park for a rest and a look at Littlebeck beneath you in the valley.
Suitably refreshed, start to climb back up the hill to the junction, but keep left, this time to start a feisty climb signed to Whitby, Scarborough and Robin Hood’s Bay. It is a long climb of varying gradient but keep climbing to eventually reach the top. Go left here signed to Sleights.
Downhill again, gentle at first but increasing in severity as you descend into the village of Ugglebarnby. Just after the church turn right at the quaint signpost to Sneaton and Whitby. Take care on this very narrow, slippery road with, you guessed it, more steep ascents and descents which by now you will be able to tackle with ease.
Soon you reach Sneaton. Turn left here to cycle downhill to Ruswarp, with more steep descents and corners. When you reach the bridge over the River Esk, do not cross. Instead, go right to Larpool on a narrow road where you pass a sign for Golden Grove before attacking more steep ascents and descents to reach Whitby.
Go straight across at the busy junction, then downhill towards the harbour. At the bottom of the hill go right for a stiff climb then turn left at the top to return to the Abbey car park.
Fact file
Distance – 14miles/22km.
Terrain – Some very narrow, slippery roads, but the nemesis of this route is the hilly terrain. There are several serious descents which will test your riding skills and your cycle’s brakes. Please ensure you are capable of riding these with confidence, they really are extremely steep. But the views are fantastic.
Best map – OS Outdoor Leisure 27.
Start/grid ref – Whitby Abbey car park, grid ref 904111.
Refreshments– Abbey Tea Rooms.
Reference book – Leave the Gallows Hungry, First Fleet to Australia by local author Stanley Wilson, posthumously published in 2010 (ISBN 978 1 4457 3735 5). It is available from good book shops. The novel tells the story of the journey, the injustices, the love affairs, misery, conflict, courage and the early days of the convicts in a hostile land.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here