With such a wide variety of landscapes it is not surprising to find an equally wide range of wildlife which may be seen and heard along the Cleveland Way.
Moorland
Amongst the large expanse of heather moorland, you will see, in addition to the heather or ling, clumps of bilberry which show up as bright green patches against the browner heather. Big furry emperor moth caterpillars may sometimes be seen amongst the heather plants. Red grouse will also be present and you will hear their "go back, go back" call as they fly fast and low over the moor. Perhaps the most characteristic call is the curlews, which carries for a long distance over the open landscape.
Valleys, woods and grassland
On the edge of the moor, heather gives way to grassland, with the small yellow flowers of tormentil and tiny masses of white-flowered heath bedstraw. Bracken is also common, often spreading out from woodland with wind sculpted oak, birch and red berried rowan or mountain ash. In the sheltered valleys, the woodlands provide a fine display of bluebells in spring, often accompanied by the white clusters (and strong smell!) of wild garlic. Birds can be hard to see among the trees and mammals may be hidden, but they will use the Cleveland Way as well, so look out for signs. Rabbit droppings, a badgers blunt footprint or black and white hairs caught under a fence, tell you they are there.
The wild coast
Along the coast the grassland, brambles and bushes harbour a wealth of colourful wild flowers such as cowslips, wild violets and knapweed. Looking out to sea you may see many bird species flying past, not only seagulls flying high, but also black cormorants and shags, or smaller razorbills, guillemots and puffins, skimming the waves as they make their way to and from their breeding cliffs.