FROM our front bay window I could see, high above the town, an array of barrage balloons.

Tethered like flying elephants I used to think, with one or two bursting on occasion into brilliant suns of fire as enemy aircraft made contact on a surprise raid.

Another impression, more reassuring at that particular time, was permanently on view from our back window far beyond Acklam's woods and fields: Roseberry Topping, our very own mountain, rearing out of the Cleveland Plain.

A stronger impact came my way in the June of 1958, during the course of a midnight hike across Roseberry's lowside and up onto nearby Easby Moor. First light at 3am: blazing disc rising, the sun came up behind a rolling wave of summer mist cascading down the hillside to merge into the white landscape below. Background to the opening sky and putting on a show, the dark craggy head of Odinsberg, once sacred hill of the Vikings, welcomed the morning.

Representational art and Roseberry Topping have a close affinity. North Yorkshire's only mountain featured prominently on early picture postcards, and still does. Down on the ground the market town of Guisborough and more immediate village of Great Ayton display pictures of their National Trust treasure in shop, office, public and private house. Favoured by estate agents, darling of the local press, old Roseberry is also popular with wedding photographers as scenic backcloth to happy couples from the region.

During the 19th century, witchcraft was still a potent force in country districts. Johnny Simpson, who lived at the foot of Roseberry became involved with, and finally upset, a powerful witch from Great Ayton called Awd Nan. Resulting punishment for Johnny was to be carried to the top of the mountain by three broomstick-assisted ladies of the night and hurled forcibly down from its heights, accompanied by a shrieking host of witches' familiars. In consequence the poor chap, once bitten was ever twice shy, and from that time on led an exemplary life.

These misfortunes and much else about Johnny Simpson were recorded and dramatically illustrated in 1899 by Richard Blakeborough in a wonderful book called 'T'Hunt o' Yatton Brig'. Prolific writer, artist, collector of local folk tales and an authority on the Cleveland dialect, he was father of the late Major Jack Fairfax-Blakeborough of Westerdale.

Alec Wright was a Stokesley artist of repute with a flair for watercolour and pen sketching. He was also an early supporter for the conservation of the Park's stunning landscape and fascinating history. From 1950 onwards, he used Roseberry Topping in many a picture for book and frame. One of his best was an engraving embellishing the cover of a 1964 anthology of Cleveland dialect poems edited by Lyke Wake Walk founder Bill Cowley - being a fine study taken from fields close to Johnny Simpson's village of Newton under Roseberry.

One more kindred spirit brings a modern eye to Roseberry. Joe Cornish is a highly skilled lensman who has worked extensively for the National Trust. He also produces a wide range of characteristic photo-cards which have held a special stand in the window of Pickering Bookshop for some years. Over the past decade he has made Roseberry a personal theme, portraying Odin's hill in all weathers with dedication, patience and an enviable sense of composition, mood and colour. Many of his larger framed photographs can be seen throughout the summer season on exhibition in the Trust's great halls.

Roseberry's distinctive profile is visible from various heights on the North York Moors, lending scale and a sense of geography to the traveller. One can in fact take a trip around the mountain by tracking its summit - a longish ride but well worthwhile as so much is enjoyed in the way of moor and coastal scenery. From the tops of Western Howes at Rosedale Head, Roseberry stands proud; to the left is Cook's monument while far right, hunched and brooding is the pine-covered shoulder of Highcliff overlooking Guisborough. The rising footpath past Fat Betty on a clear day leads to a breathtaking sight sweeping down to the coast, with ships bound for Teesmouth on a sea smooth as glass. Sunrise or moonrise, it is a view which takes some beating.

But the sheer majesty of this unusual hill is best appreciated on approach along the A173 from Guisborough via Pinchinthorpe to Newton under Roseberry. Here, a stop is almost compulsory; an action foreseen by design - a large layby just sort of the village, and the King's Head!

Cricked necks are inevitable here too, as Roseberry overpowers with its presence; a massive rising up from Newton Wood to an impressive summit composed of pathways and tumbled rocks. And, to soothe the spirit come next summer's sultry evenings, there will be yellowhammers in the layby's trees, delivering their "little-bit-of-bread and no---o cheese" calls, as pleasantly incessant as the flight of swallows over adjacent cornfields.

One of Roseberry's favourite vantage points is the expansive vista from the elevated car park atop of Clay Bank and entrance to Ryedale through Bilsdale's green corridor. Bronze Age people buried their dead here; today it's feed the birds, enjoy the view and let's come back tonight to see the Teesside lights.

Unmentioned as yet, the ascent of Roseberry: in 1743 a climber could well have reached the top to find a 15 year old lad name of James Cook up from Aireyholme farm, looking long and serious toward the distant coast. Today the flat rock topping is more likely to support youngsters on a sponsored climb; or one or two sixty-something even, just so pleased to have generated that bit of extra will power.

Thoroughly shamed one Maytime though, as a sprightly gent ten years my senior and clad in full running kit sped by on the upward track as I was already into bottom gear at base camp. "Beautiful evening!" he called, effortlessly, his voice trailing away on the cool night air.

Updated: 10:58 Thursday, November 08, 2001