Lyke Wake Walk Coffin

In the shadowy depths of the North York Moors, an eerie relic emerges from a most unconventional tradition. This miniature coffin hails from the Lyke Wake Walk, a mystical 40-mile crossing from Osmotherly to Ravenscar, which must be completed within a hauntingly strict 24-hour window.

The origin of this spectral journey can be traced back to the creative mind of Bill Cowley, who, in August 1955, issued a challenge through an advert in the Dalesman. Those who dared to believe they could conquer the formidable trek were summoned to gather at noon on October 1st, 1955. Miraculously, 11 men and 3 women rose to the challenge and successfully completed the journey. Thus, the Lyke Wake Club was born.

The name ‘Lyke Wake Walk’ itself carries a whisper of the supernatural, with ‘lyke’ referring to the corpse and ‘wake’ to the vigil held over the deceased. Our beautiful North York Moors become transformed into a place of spectral beauty as night falls, an ethereal backdrop to this daunting rite of passage. This coffin is not for the faint-hearted. At 50cm long, it makes a wonderful memento to the journey...