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This short tour of contrasts explores the stunning heather moorland of the North York Moors National Park before heading east to visit the charming settlements along the coast.
Starting in the postcard-perfect village of Helmsley, this whistle-stop tour takes in all the classic sights of the Cleveland Way where the dramatic uplands of the North York Moors National Park provide the backdrop. It’s a tour of contrasts, visiting the stunning heather moorland and magnificent historic sites like Rievaulx Abbey, where nearly five centuries after their dissolution by order of King Henry VIII, the monastic ruins provide a poignant reminder of the region’s turbulent past, before moving to the coast to explore the charming settlements of Saltburn, Staithes, and Whitby.
The icons below highlight the distance, length, difficulty and theme of this itinerary.
62km
6
Moderate
Coastal / History
Hills and Moorland / By Water
Every step of the journey has been carefully planned to help you make the most of your walking adventure. Click on the blue arrow tabs below for more information.
This itinerary is offered by Celtic Trails Walking Holidays, which specializes in self-guided walking holidays in the UK and Europe. As one of the longest established providers in the UK, those at Celtic Trails are experts in the field, but the company has remained small enough to ensure that every customer receives an individual and personalized service.
Celtic Trails arranges all accommodation, path pick-ups and drop-offs, and luggage transfers and provide a detailed walk package which includes a guide book, OS mapping, accommodation directions, packed lunch and dinner options, the daily arrangements, and useful information.
To find out more about this itinerary and make an enquiry or a booking, click on the Enquire Now button at the top of the page. The Save to My Rucksack button allows you to save itineraries to view later, or to download them as a PDF.
Starting in Helmsley, this tour seamlessly blends walking and sight-seeing to make the most of your time in Yorkshire. Explore historic Helmsley and Rievaulx Abbey before heading out onto the moors to walk one of the most scenic sections of the trail and then follow the coastal path from Saltburn to Whitby.
Check into your comfortable accommodation at the Feathers Hotel and explore Helmsley Castle before heading to the Helmsley Brewery Company to see how they make local cask ale and sample a few glasses of the official Cleveland Way ale ‘Striding the Riding’. Overnight in the village.
Investigate the independent shops of Helmsley and get your first views of the Rye Valley. Experience the incredible ruins of Rievaulx Abbey and have the ‘Walkers Lunch’ at its café. The route heads back to Helmsley, where there is so much more to explore. En route, stop at at the National Trust’s Rievaulx Terrace to admire the incredible views across the valley and look down on to the Abbey. 11.3 km / 7 miles
After a taxi transfer to Osmotherley, walk an outstanding section of the Cleveland Way across the North York Moors, visiting the natural wonder of the rocky outcrop of the Wainstones and stopping for lunch at the popular Lordstones Café. See red grouse, heather moors, and fantastic views from the edge of the North York Moors Escarpment. Your accommodation hosts will pick you up from the Clay Bank Top parking lot and drive you to your accommodation in Great Broughton. 11 miles/17.5km
Transfer to the charming Victorian town of Saltburn with a vibrant, contemporary spirit, making a new name for itself as an arts, culture, food, and surfing destination. Admire grand seascapes from the highest point on the east coast of England and head down a mine at the Cleveland Ironstone Mining Museum. See England’s northernmost surviving pier and the world’s oldest water-powered Cliff Tramway. Stop off for refreshments at the Guns Bar micro pub and Taste Tea and Coffee House. Overnight at the Captain Cook Inn at Staithes – a traditional fishing village with a rich artistic heritage. 14.1 km / 8.8 miles
Experience the Staithes Illusion Trail (eight trompe l’oeil works) hidden around the snickets, the Lifeboat Station, and the art galleries of Staithes; squeeze down tiny Dog Loup – one of the narrowest streets in Britain at just under 18 inches wide. Go beachcombing at Runswick Bay – one of the best beaches in England for beautiful shells, ammonite fossils, or even shiny pieces of Whitby Jet. Continue east along the coast to the famous seaside town of Whitby and then to your guest house. 19.3 km / 12 miles
Whitby has prospered over the years thanks to whaling, shipbuilding (Captain Cook’s ships were built here), and the jet trade, but today tourism is one of its main industries. Whitby is renowned as the setting for Bram Stoker’s ‘Dracula’. Try counting the 199 steps up to the Church of St. Mary – it’s rare for two people to agree on the actual number! The classic outline of the ruins of Whitby Abbey soon comes into view. Enjoy fish and chips on the Prom – the definitive Whitby experience.
Celtic Trails accommodates walkers in good accommodations at a mixture of guesthouses, farmhouses, local inns, and B&B’s with en-suite or private bathrooms wherever possible. Breakfast is included.
For this itinerary, walkers stay at the Feathers Hotel in Helmsley and The Captain Cook Inn at Staithes – both noted for their traditional cask ales. There is also an overnight stay in Great Broughton and the historic seaside town of Whitby.
P&O Ferry terminal Hull
Then take bus 70 from terminal to the center of Hull, leaving at 8.15 and 9.00 (weekdays), 8.00, 9.00 and 9.45 (Sat, Sun and BH).
The train from Hull to York leaves at 9.40 (change at Garforth) Take bus 31X. http://getdown.org.uk/bus/bus/31x.shtml
DFDS terminal Newcastle to Helmsley
DFDS bus to Newcastle station takes 30 mins. Train to York takes about 1 hr. Bus 31X from York
Manchester airport to Helmsley
Train to York (approx. 2 hours). Bus 31X to Helmsley (1hr 20 mins)
Leeds Bradford Airport to Helmsley
Bus 757 to Leeds station (35 mins). Train to York (25 mins). Bus 31X to Helmsley (1 hr 20 mins)
Newcastle Airport to Helmsley
Train to Newcastle (25 mins), York (57 mins). Bus 31X to Helmsley (1hr 20 mins)
London Kings Cross to Helmsley
Train to York (2 hrs). Bus 31X to Helmsley (1hr 20mins)
This route is rated moderate and offers a contrast between moorland and coastal walking. The walk can be completed at any time of year, but winter usually brings snow, ice, and freezing temperatures so we recommend visiting in spring or summer for warm temperatures and longer daylight hours. Celtic Trails recommends the route be walked from mid-March to mid-October.
You’ll be spoiled for choice with so much great local food and drink. Start with local ales at the Helmsley Brewery the night before you start walking, then feast on the region’s ever-changing culinary delights as you walk. There’s an almost endless stream of pubs, cafes, tea rooms, and farm shops along the way, plus the chance to visit some excellent eateries. Make sure you buy some local snacks to carry with you too, because there are great picnic spots along the Cleveland Way.
The official guidebook and map for the Trail are available from the National Trails Shop along with a wide range of gifts and other merchandise.
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