Whitby, North Yorkshire, UK

Walking in the WHITBY area!

There is a lot of excellent walking in the North York Moors National Park area. Many of the best walks are part of the long distance footpaths which cross the area: the Coast-to-coast walk (from the Lake District to Robin Hood's Bay- just south of Whitby) , the Cleveland Way ( a coastal path from Scarborough to Middlesborough then a walk along the edge of the Moors to the historic town of Helmsley), the Lyke Wake walk ( a 70 km walk that follows the high moorland from Osmotherly to the coast) and the Esk valley walk (a walk from the source of the river Esk to the sea). Walkers can choose to follow the full long distance paths or walk shorter walks a day at a time - we regularly offer walks as a Saturday activity.

Coast-to-coast walk

The Coast to Coast Walk is one of the most popular long-distance walks in the UK. It was devised by the late Alfred Wainwright in the early 1970s, and links the Irish Sea to the North Sea via the hills, moors and valleys of northern England. The 190-mile route (304 km) crosses three national parks: the Lake District, Yorkshire Dales and the North York Moors. It is scenic, but high-level, and visits only two towns of any real size (Kirkby Stephen and Richmond, North Yorkshire). The route is traditionally walked from west to east (St Bees to Robin Hood's Bay), so that the prevailing weather will be coming from behind. But others choose to begin on the Yorkshire coast, so as to have the Lake District section as a grand finale. Similarly, the walk can be as long or as short as you want. Some people prefer to walk it in weekend sections, but most walk it continuously, averaging between 10-14 days in total. The Coast to Coast Walk offers a variety of scenery and terrain for the walker. The valleys and arable land make for straightforward walking, but the hills – particularly in the Lake District – are high and the gradients sometimes steep. Many stages are bare and exposed, such as the North York Moors, and help may not always be close to hand.

Guidebooks: All three guidebooks include route description and rough maps.

A Coast to Coast Walk by A Wainwright (Michael Joseph). From Ramblers Association, 1/5 Wandsworth Road, London SW8 2XX Tel: 0171 339 8500 Fax: 0171 339 8501 E-mail: ramblers@london.ramblers.org.uk

The Coast to Coast Walk by Paul Hannon (Hillside Publications, 11 Nessfield Grove, Keighley, West Yorks BD22 6NU, £7.50)

A Northern Coast-to-Coast Walk by Terry Marsh (Cicerone Press, 2 Police Square, Milnthorpe, Cumbria LA7 7PY, £7.99)

For further information see these links:

Walks in Northern England (a useful site kept by a Dutch university lecturer - Thomas Keijzer - which has general information about walking in the north of England as well as specific information about the Coast to Coast walk and links to other sites)

Coast to Coast Walk Accommodation & Services Site Useful factsheet, links for addresses of B&B etc

Phil Andrew's description of the route with some photos: Phil works at Nottingham University

Ordnance Survey Hiking and Tourist Maps

Coast to Coast 1999 St. Bees to Robin Hood’s Bay, 13 days: an excellent day-by-day account with route descriptions and pictures.

St Bees Heritage & Tourism Group

Cleveland Way

The walk was officially opened in 1969 and is one of the most varied and interesting footpaths in this country. It is just over 100 miles long and goes from Helmsley in the west to Filey in the east. The distance from Helmsley to Filey by road is just over 30 miles by the direct route so it is immediately apparent that the footpath is not aligned with this route. In fact from Helmsley instead of heading east the path first heads 10 miles west so that at the end of the first section of the walk you are further away from Filey than when you started. The walk in fact basically follows three sides of the North Yorks Moors and a coastal footpath to arrive at Filey. Along the way you cover many different types of terrain, follow many different types of footpath, glory in varied and beautful array of scenery and for those with a historic bent explore nearly every facet of the historical development of North Yorkshire.

The National Trail Guides:

Cleveland Way - written by Ian Sampson, published by Aurum Press Ltd. (1989) in association with the Countryside Commission and the Ordinance Survey. This book covers the whole route in considerable detail with extracts from Ordinance Survey maps showing the route. There is good advice on how to walk the CW, what to take and what to expect. Included are a number of articles about features met on the CW. As an added bonus there are four circular walks described that take in some part of the CW. At the back of the book there is a section of useful information - transport, accommodation, useful addresses, the OS maps to use and other books to have a look at.

A Guide to the Cleveland Way and Missing Link by Malcolm Boyles, (Constable, 1977). This includes a route back to the start of the CW at Helmsley from the official end at Newbiggin Cliff.

The Cleveland Way by Bill Cowley, (Dalesman Books, 1987). Cleveland Way Companion by Paul Hannon, (Hillside Publications, 1986).

A Guide to the Cleveland Way by Richard Sale (Constable, 1987). North York Moors by Ken Ward (Jarrold Color Publications, 1989). This is not a CW guide but does cover some of the moorland sections along its own route. It could be used as the basis for extending the CW.

Ian Fisk: This New Zealander's site provides a day by day guide to the route.

Lyke Wake Walk

The Lyke Wake Walk is the forty mile crossing of the North Yorkshire Moors from Scarth Wood Moor, Osmotherley to the coast at Ravenscar, which has to be completed in twenty four hours for membership of theLyke Wake Club.The Lyke Wake Walk first started in August 1955 following an article written in the Dalesman magazine by local farmer Bill Cowley. The walk often receives criticism for attracting too many people to the high moors. Each year about ten thousand people complete this arduous walk. The walk is named after the procession over the moors once undertaken by mourners on a wake ('lyke' being a corpse).

Esk Valley Walk

Short walks to and from Whitby

Check out this links: Frank's Walking Page: a description of several walks in the North York Moors

SALTBURN TO WHITBY (20 miles)

The Cleveland Way leaves Saltburn by a path that climbs steeply behind the Ship Inn and keeps to the left of the old coastguard cottages to bring you out on the cliff top. Route finding along the coast is resonably simple; all you have to do is follow the line of the coast taking the path nearest the sea; but be warned, some of these cliffs are high and very dangerous and the chances of you surviving a fall from them is an extremely remote possibility.The cliff path is joined properly on the first promontry of Huntcliff where the path leaves the fields just before a second world war pill-box. Just beyond this point the path follows the line of the disused railway and begins the long descent into Skinningrove. A well made path comes down from the beginning of the industrial area to the shore near the old jetty and past the old iron workers cottages to climb the steep cliff path out of the bay and onto the headland of Hummersea. Just before the next bay you come to two ponds near the cliff edge and at this point you go inland one field by Warren cottages to the path over the summit of Boulby, the highest cliff in England. A green track goes on from the summit of Boulby and this leads into Cowper Lane and the village of Staithes. There is a very good pub in Staithes called the 'Cod & Lobster'. Go up Church St. behind the pub and the cliff path rises steeply from the end of it. The path goes over the fields to Brackenberry Wyke and then past the site of the old Hinderwell Beacon to reach the headland at Lingrow. A little further on is Cobble Dump and at this point the path turns sharp right away from the cliff to the top of Runswick Bank and through Runswick Bay. Follow the coast past Hob Holes and on to the headland of Kettlenessand follow the path until you eventually come to Deepgrove Wyke. At this point you need to make a slight detour to join the disused railway line which can be followed all the way into Sandsend. From Sandsend if the tide is out you can walk along the beach to Whitby. If the tide is in then you can catch a bus; this is much more preferable to the trudge along the road past the victorian hotels and guest houses.

WHITBY TO ROBIN HOOD'S BAY ( ? miles)

Leave Whitby by way of the 199 steps leading up to the church and the Abbey. The path keeps more or less to the edge of the cliffs by Saltwick Nab and Bay and another smugglers hole near Black Nab. At Whitestones Point you come to the "Whitby Bull" and just pray that it is not foggy when you arrive. This foghorn can be heard miles away but when you are close to it the noise is absolutely deafening. Beyond Hawsker Bottoms the whole panorama of Robin Hoods Bay opens out before you and it is an easy walk down into Bay Village. It is worth spending a little time here as this is arguably the last place of any scenic beauty and interest on the walk. The village boasts three pubs as well as several hotels, shops and a post office.Of the three pubs the 'Laurel' boasts the best beer, the 'Bay Hotel' has very good value for money food and the best views from the bar, and the 'Dolphin' has a very good folk club on a Friday night.

General information about walking in the UK

Ramblers Association The Ramblers' Association is a British registered charity (no. 306089) which promotes rambling, protects rights of way, campaigns for access to open country and defends the beauty of the countryside in England, Scotland and Wales.

• Cycling:

There are a lot of cycle paths in the area, the main one being the trackbed of the former Whitby to Scarborough railway. Mountain biking is very popular and guidebooks are available to routes over the moors and through the forests. Bike hire is also available if you don't want to bring your own bicycle.

• Horse-riding
• Canoeing
• Golf
• Fishing trips on shore and out at sea

THE SURROUNDING AREA

There are many beautiful places to visit in and around Whitby, here are some that may be of interest.

North Yorkshire Moors - The moors can look spectacular when covered in heather and what better way to get some fresh air than a walk on the moors. You can visit the Moors Centre in Dandy to find out who works for them and what animals live among them. You can also see the countryside in a different light by taking a ride on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway.

Robin Hoods Bay - This is a small fishing village about 7 miles out of Whitby. It is an interesting village with plenty of hide-aways to explore. It is also good for fossil hunting.

Goathland

Saltwick Bay - This is a very picturesque little beach which is an excellent place to find fossils.
North York Moors National ParkClick Here

Estbek House                                        

A fine Georgian House overlooking one of the pretty Becks at Sandsend, a picturesque village nestling in an unspoilt valley adjacent to the Mulgrave Woods and a glorious sandy beach. Perfectly situated for visiting the old fishing port of Whitby with its quaint winding streets and famous Abbey, only two and a half miles away, and for exploring the beautiful North Yorkshire Moors National Park, Sandsend is also ideal for those just seeking a quiet and relaxing break by the sea.

Queensland Hotel

The Queensland Hotel is on the British Travel Agents Accommodation Register and caters for business trips; small business conferences; school residential visits; artists, rambling groups, or annual family summer holidays. It is situated on the popular West Cliff close to all amenities; Spa Theatre; Royal Gardens; Children's paddling pools; Crazy Golf; Tennis; Pitch & Putt; Boating Lake; Beaches; Town Shops and the 18 hole Links Golf Course.

Contact: John and Ann Richards, The Queensland Hotel West Cliff, Whitby, North Yorkshire. YO21 3EQ. England. Tel / Fax: 01947 604262 Email: info@queensland.co.uk Internet: www.queensland.co.uk

Groves Dyke Holiday Cottage

Groves Dyke Holiday Cottage is a semi-detached cottage which offers self-catering accommodation in the heart of the North York Moors National Park  It is located just three miles inland from Whitby near the village of Sleights. Check out the website for description and photographs of this recently refurbished and well-equipped cottage. The owner is Niall Carson and on the website he regularly updates a wildlife diary which includes wildlife observations in and around the cottage gardens and woodland and news of the cottage itself.