We carried water for this half-day, but Sutton Bank Visitor Centre toilets had water and there was a picture on the wall done by the local school explaining the water collection process.

Osmotherley has public toilets and the gents has water, not the ladies!.

The Post Office shop in Kildale has a small range of supplies including bottled water. We collected excellent water at Spring Wood 618140 - at this point the forest track forks. At the time, the CW was diverted uphill along the upper R fork, to access the spring take the L fork downhill a short way to the point where it levels out then turn back sharp L along an old leafy track, the spring is a short distance along on the L.

No problems with supplies from here to Filey!. Coastal sections can be tricky for pitching though, depending how fussy you are about being hidden from view. We pitched on a lower tier of Lingrow cliffs around 808167.

Although it doesn't matter for walking, one point to bear in mind for pitching is that on the coastal sections that are anywhere near a car park, the ground adjacent to the path is basically a linear dog lavatory.

There seem to be alternating stretches where pitching is easy and tricky, and we ended in a tricky one today. We could have crossed the fence into the inviting fields but we thought being on the outside would be a more defensible position!.

There was a diversion in force omitting Newbiggin Cliff, running from the Blue Dolphin holiday park via the A165 and A1039 and the footpath N from Filey Field Farm, which we followed but in hindsight we think we should have ignored it. We are always sceptical about the rationale for these things, often there are no significant problems at all for walkers whatever the powers that be might say. Anyway we made a good pitch on North Cliff.

At Filey Brigg is the end of the official CW and a stroll to the rail station. The Missing Link (ML) starts from Crook Ness, but we thought it a little odd as Scarborough is the obvious return point from Filey to start the traverse (other than backtracking for miles along the CW). Our route worked out quite well, starting with a short rail trip to Scarborough and restocking supplies. Less than a mile NW from Scarborough station at 030887 a permitted path, now also a cycle route, runs NW along the line of the dismantled railway to the road through Scalby. Turning L through the centre to the W end at 008902, a path and track run NW then N to join the ML near Beacon Cottage farm.

Climbing NW to Reasty Hill Top we joined the Blue Man route and kept a close eye on the map. Between Barns Cliff End and Crosscliff Forest it can be difficult to keep track of exactly where you are, but there are rewards. This is a route not just of dull forest roads but good views from Langdale Rigg and some pleasant woodland. Having bought water in Scarborough we pitched by a side track in Crosscliff Forest.

Heading NW along Crosscliff Brow and out to the A169, the scene changes again as a track curves around the Hole of Horcum with broad open views and S to Dundale Pond and a multi-way signpost. We took the route W & SW that bypasses Levisham village and arrives at the station, where the timing was perfect for once as the steam locomotive Braveheart chugged in as we arrived. The ML heads NW to enter and cross Cropton Forest in straightforward fashion and leaves it at Hartoft Bridge. A footpath SW crosses Spaunton Moor, and we bypassed Lastingham and walked to Hutton-le-Hole, where there is a public toilet with water and driers. Taking the road NW to Lowna Bridge the ML heads N up the Dove valley to Dale End Bridge (good water at springs a short way before the bridge) and climbs W to Harland Moor where we made our last pitch.

An easy half-day following the ML footpaths SW to Penny Holme then the track that turns S to Beadlam Rigg. A bridleway turns W to Riccal Dale and Hasty Bank farm leaving valley tracks and paths S to Helmsley.