Farndale Heather Rally
Isolated in the wild and rugged landscape on the ridge between Rosedale and Farndale is an ancient inn called the Lion Inn, built long ago on the grounds of Blakey Ridge, Kirkbymoorside, North Yorkshire.
No urbanity seems to exist in this very inhospitable country; much worse in winter. Its history indicates that only passing travelers once set foot on this place that generations of ancestors of Ryedale and Cleveland nicknamed, in the distant past, 'The Lion'.
The Lion Inn' at Blakey Ridge
Buried in snow for nine days
The only notoriety that this otherworldly inn has acquired is, on the one hand, being ranked 4th highest in altitude pub in England; but above all to have succeeded in making people talk about it in the various British media during the winter of 2010, when seven people remained trapped in the hostel for nine days after the building was swallowed up by 16 feet snowdrifts.
Five employees and two local residents found themselves cut off from the world when heavy snow blocked the windows and doors of the Lion Inn. The surrounding roads became impassable and too dangerous for vehicles to pass through. These seven temporary winter prisoners had to be patient while waiting for help to reach them and deliver them from their forced incarceration due to the harsh and unexpected winter conditions of that year.
1st to 3rd August:
Motorcycles in the heather moors
Another fact relating to the Lion Inn, and although it is totally unknown to the British public, is that its site can also boast of having been the scene of several motorcycling gatherings organised by the York 66 Riders in winter and in summer. The very first dates back to the end of the 1960s, as evidenced by the back of their commemorative badges.
Here we are going to talk about one of these summer meetings, and more precisely the one entitled 'Farndale Heather Rally' which took place on 1st to 3rd August.
Held at over 1340ft, these summer meetings offered their participants an incomparable view of the magnificent landscape of the North York Moors National Park with its typical heather moors.
Unfortunately, I do not have any photos taken at this particular rally to share with you in this text. If a reader of this site, having taken part in it, could provide us with some in a comment, that would not only be welcome but would almost be a miracle.
On the other hand, we have two irrefutable proofs that these events did take place.
First, from the scan of the commemorative badge of the Farndale Heather Rally 1971, given to us by the unforgettable late collaborator of this website, Les Hobbs, who had the opportunity to take part in it.
FARNDALE HEATHER RALLY AUGUST 1ST TO 3RD VENUE THE LION INN, BLAKEY RIDGE. A GOOD SITE, OVER 1,340 FT UP OVERLOOKING FARNDALE ON THE BEAUTIFUL NORTH YORKS MOORS NATIONAL PARK IMPORTANT. THE PARK IS FULL OF WILDLIFE, DRIVE CAREFULLY NORTH FROM KIRKBYMOORSIDE FOLLOWING SIGNS. ENTRY 3/- PER PERSON, BADGE 5/- EACH. LONG DISTANCE AWARD, BOOZING FEEDING, SINGING, CAMPING AND A GUIDED TOUR OF THE LOCAL PLACES LED BY THE HARLEY DAVIDSON PLEASE NOTE. ONLY RALLYISTS ARRIVING BY MOTORCYCLE WILL BE ADMITTED
Secondly, a scan of the flyer produced by its organizers to announce it, and which I have just extracted from my archives to share it here with you.
- Jean-Francois Helias