A Guide to the Cleveland Way
12/06/2013
Crows Nest Caravan Park has direct access to one of the most fascinating walks in the UK – The Cleveland Way. The Cleveland Way is 109 miles / 176 Kilometres of ever changing and beautiful landscapes and scenery.
The Cleveland Way route follows a horseshoe line of great variety around much of the beautiful North York Moors National Park. The walk starts in the centre of the attractive market town of Helmsley and after passing through 60 odd miles of wild upland moors and hills drops down to the sea at Saltburn and spends its final 40 miles taking the cliff top path to a finish at Scarborough. It is this contrast which makes the Cleveland Way totally unique – no other long distance path combines moor and coast so successfully
The Cleveland Way is a fascinating long distance trail taking in great chunks of moorland and cliff edge walking with lesser time spent beside the rivers which carve deeply in to the high moorland plateau. Along the way there is a wealth of history and heritage to enjoy. Helmsley Castle, Rievaulx Abbey, Mount Grace Priory, Gisborough Priory, Whitby Abbey and Scarborough Castle to name just a few special sites.
Flora and Fauna
The moorland sections of the Cleveland Way provide a habitat for species including red grouse, curlews and Emperor moth caterpillars. The coastal sections may provide sightings of sea birds such as Great Cormorants, Shags, Puffins, Guillemots and Sea gulls.
Itineraries
1. Speedy Itinerary
Day 1: Helmsley to Osmotherley (22 miles)
Day 2: Osmotherley to Kildale (20 miles)
Day 3: Kildale to Saltburn (14.5 miles)
Day 4: Saltburn to Runswick Bay (12 miles)
Day 5: Runswick Bay to Robin Hood’s Bay (15 miles)
Day 6: Robin Hood’s Bay to Scarborough (14.5 miles)
Day 7: Scarborough to Filey (10 miles)
2. Leisurely Itinerary
Day 1: Helmsley to Sutton Bank (10 1/2 miles)
Day 2: Sutton Bank to Osmotherley (12 miles)
Day 3: Osmotherley to Clay Bank (11 miles)
Day 4: Clay Bank to Kildale/Great Ayton (9 miles)
Day 5: Kildale/Great Ayton to Saltburn (14.5 miles)
Day 6: Saltburn to Staithes (9 miles)
Day 7: Staithes to Whitby (11.5 miles)
Day 8: Whitby to Robin Hood’s Bay (7 miles)
Day 9: Robin Hood’s Bay to Scarborough (15 miles)
Day 10 Scarborough to Filey (10 miles)
Further Reading
National Trails - Cleveland Way
Frequently Asked Questions
How long will it take me to walk the Cleveland Way? The official guidebook recommends a nine day route. You make want to take a little longer if you want to see more of the sites along the way.
Which direction should I walk in? Most people walk the route from Helmsley through to Filey in a clockwise direction. This way you are likely to have the wind on your back for more of the time and most of the guidebooks are written this way. But there is no right or wrong way – plenty of people enjoy walking it in the other direction.
Can I take a dog on the Cleveland Way? Yes you can. You will need to keep it under close control and we would recommend a lead on lengths such as the moorland stretches where there can be nesting birds. There are still some stiles on the route and your dog will need to be able to cross them.
What gear will I need to take? Conditions can vary along the Cleveland Way, so you will need to be fully equipped with waterproofs, good boots and emergency supplies. You should carry and need to be able to use a map.
Can I cycle or Horse Ride on the Cleveland Way? Some lengths of the Cleveland Way are bridleways or minor roads and so are suitable for cycling and horseriding. However you cannot cycle or ride the full route, because most of it is footpath. Consult the Explorer maps OL26 and OL27 to plan the lengths you can enjoy riding on.
When is the best time to walk the Cleveland Way? The Cleveland Way can be walked right through the year, so there is not really a best time. If you want to see the moorland heather in bloom, then this take place in late August and September.
What is the fastest completion time for the Cleveland Way? The fastest official completion time is 21 hours and 3 minutes, set by Neil Ridsdale on 25th September 2010 as part of the Hardmoors 110 Ultrarun. The first official fastest time was 24 hours and 19 minutes, set by Martin Dietrich on Saturday 27th September 2008 as part of the first Hardmoors 110 Ultrarun.