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The landscape of the North Yorkshire Moors is essentially one of valleys; there are no great hills, to speak of, but there are some very fine valleys.
You notice this when you leave the main road at Red Gate, and head over the moors on a fairly level road until you come to Newton Farm. Then the road plunges steeply down hill, eventually ending at a Forestry Commission car park.
From there you can continue on foot down to the Tea Gardens at the grandly named but diminutive keeper's cottage, Midge Hall. Just round the corner is the fine 30ft (10m) high waterfall known as Falling Foss.
From here you can take the path to Littlebeck along the side of the valley, with the river falling away to your left at a surprisingly rapid rate, until you reach The Hermitage.
A short walk from Falling Foss is The Hermitage, a hermit's cave carved out of a huge boulder.
Inscribed above the door are the letters CG, the initials of the reputed builder, George Chubb, and the date 1790, presumably the date of construction.