Trail Information

The 109 mile (175km) Cleveland Way is one of England’s original National Trails. Starting at Helmsley, the first half crosses the North York Moors National Park, boasting great vistas from sweeping heather moorlands. Upon reaching the coast at Saltburn-by-the-Sea, the second half of the route then follows the North Yorkshire coast as far as Filey, taking in the highest cliffs in eastern England at Boulby.

Prepare for your trip

Select the blue arrow tabs below for more details.

Exploring the Trail

The Trail is 109 mile (175 km) long. The official guidebook recommends a nine day trip. You might want to take a little longer if you want to see more of the interesting places along the way.

Anyone who is reasonably fit can walk the Cleveland Way. The route is challenging in places, especially the coastal sections, which adds to the overall experience. Whilst the route is well signed throughout, an up to date map or GPS mapping is essential.

In winter the coastal sections can get very muddy, making it even more challenging and not always the best experience!

As of 10 November there is an Emergency Closure and temporary diversion between Boggle Hole and Stoupe Beck due to Coastal slips.

Fore details visit the following link

Emergency Closure Boggle Hole to Stoupe Beck

There is  a temporary diversion to allow housing development to take place at Skelton.  For more details please see: Temporary Diversion at Skelton.

There is a short diversion due to coastal erosion on the approach to Robin Hood’s Bay from the east.  For more details please see: Diversion at Robin Hood’s Bay

The trail has also been diverted to bring users up to the Historic Lady Chapel near Osmotherley.  For more details please see: Diversion to Lady Chapel.

As well as the searchable accommodation map below there is a downloadable Accommodation & Information Guide for the Cleveland Way.  There are two versions – one for B&Bs/Hotels and one for camping. You can find the download on the leaflets page.

There are some sections of the Cleveland Way without stiles or steps that we have accessibility information on for people wishing to visit.

You can find these on our Circular and Linear Walks Page

They are listed as Accessible walks and we are currently adding more to the site.

Top Tips for Enjoying the Trail

Rail services connect to York, Malton, Thirsk, Middlesbrough, Great Ayton, Whitby, Scarborough and Filey. In addition bus services can get you to the start at Helmsley from York, Malton or Scarborough.

For rail information please see www.nationalrail.co.uk

If arriving at Hull using North Sea Ferries you can catch a bus from King George Dock to the Paragon Interchange where you can pick up train, bus and coach services. Catch a train to Scarborough and then take the 128 bus from Scarborough to Helmsley.

On finishing the Trail you can catch either a bus or train directly from Filey back to Hull.

If you are arriving by plane to Leeds Bradford, Manchester or Newcastle airport it’s best to journey to York by train and then catch the daily bus through to Helmsley.

You can find up-to-date public transport information including a journey planner at www.traveline.info

There is a good choice of accommodation close to the Trail and it can be viewed on the Interactive Map below or as an online list here: Trail Accommodation

There are also the downloadable Accommodation & Information Guides for the Cleveland Way which are very useful and can be found on the Leaflets page.

The area is popular and accommodation can book up quickly in peak season. We recommend that you book it well in advance. If you are planning on walking the whole trail you might want to consider offsetting your days – so that you start on a Monday or Tuesday for example, or consider walking it in the less common direction – from Filey to Helmsley.

There are plenty of campsites along the Trail and they can be viewed on the Interactive Map. If you plan to camp please note it is not legal to wild camp in England or Wales – you will need to stay on official campsites.

Download the Camping Accommodation & Information Guide for full details, available from the Leaflets page.

There are several companies that will arrange to move your bags for you, help you plan your trip, or arrange a full package.

View a list of these companies here: Walking Holiday Companies. 

The Cleveland Way can be walked right through the year. If you want to see the moorland heather in bloom, then this takes place in late August and early September.

Given how muddy the coastal path can get during winter, for a better experience it is best enjoyed from Spring though to Autumn.

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. If you are finding it hard to book accommodation you might want to walk the Trail in the less common direction – from Filey to Helmsley.

We recommend that you take a map and/or guidebook with you, or a copy of the walk leaflet if you are doing a shorter walk. You may also find a compass useful.

If you are walking solo you may want to tell somewhere where you are going as there can be mobile black spots along the Trail. Ensure your phone is fully charged before setting off.

Weather in the UK can be changeable so it’s wise to be prepared. You’ll need good footwear, waterproofs and warm layers. Take plenty of water and just in case, pack a few plasters for your feet. In the summer you may need sun cream.

Phone reception can be patchy along the Trail, don’t rely on being able to use your phone to help you navigate. Wi-Fi is available at some accommodation and pubs/cafés along the route.

The UK is unique in having a network of paths that the public can use, this is the Public Rights of Way network. You can see these paths on Ordnance Survey maps.

National Trails are signed with an acorn symbol and/or the Trail name which you will see on stiles, gates and signposts. This is the symbol used by all the English and Welsh National Trails.

As you are walking along the Trail you will also see waymarkers pointing to other paths. You can use the public rights of way network to leave the Trail to explore places of interest, reach your accommodation and find places to eat and drink.

You will often find a coloured arrow on signs which indicates the status of that section of path. The most common are yellow arrows which are footpaths and blue which are bridleways.

A GPX file can be downloaded from the Create Your Own Trip page (the button is below the map).

The fastest time to complete the trail is 19 hours, 45 minutes and 49 seconds.  This was achieved at the Hardmoors 110 Ultrarace 2020 by Jacob Snochowski of Ambleside Athletic Club

Holiday Inspiration

Visit our Walking Holidays Page for holiday inspiration for the Cleveland Way.

Circular and Linear Walks

There are some great walks to enjoy along parts of the Cleveland Way, which will give you a taste of the wonderful moorland and coastal landscapes of the North York Moors.  Find the perfect walk for you in the Further Information section.

Leaflets, Maps, Guidebooks and Merchandise

The official guidebook and map for the Trail are available from the The Trails Shop along with a wide range of gifts and other merchandise.

You can find a list of Ordnance Survey maps for the Trail here: Maps for the Trail.

Certificates are available from the The Trails Shop.

There are a wide range of useful leaflets to download, such as the Accommodation & Information Guides.  Find these in the Further Information section.

The Accommodation & Information Guide for the Cleveland Way is produced every 2 years.  There is a version for Hotels and B&Bs and a separate one for Camping.  It can be found here: Accommodation Leaflets.

Interactive Map

Use the Map Filter to see places to visit and where to stay along the Cleveland Way. View information on the map by ticking the boxes in the Map Filter.

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Create your own trip

Feeling inspired? Build a bespoke itinerary and start planning your visit to this great National Trail here.

Contact the Trail Officer

If you have feedback or a question about the Cleveland Way, please contact the Trail Officer

Contact Malcolm Hodgson
Trail Officer