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England: Walking the Cleveland Way

Updated: Sep 15, 2023

The 175 km long Cleveland Way in North Yorkshire is one of the most beautiful and varied hiking paths in England. It is now part of the King Charles III England Coast Path.

Cleveland Way England North Yorkshire coastal walk signpost

The Cleveland Way offers the best of both worlds: heather moorland and stunning coastal scenery.

Starting in Helmsley and ending in Filey Brigg, it passes through the famous smuggling village of Robin Hood's Bay and the popular seaside resorts of Scarborough and Whitby - one of England's prettiest seaside towns and home of Whitby Abbey, which served as inspiration for Bram Stoker's Dracula.

Since 2023 it has been part of the King Charles III England Coast Path, which when completed will be the longest walking path in the world. See also my blog.


factor: ♡♡♡♡♡

Cleveland Way England North Yorkshire coastline green hills coastal walk King Charles III England Coast Path

Walking time: 4:00

Elevation: 3035 m up 3058 m downhill

Length: 175km

Accessible by public transport: yes

Suitable for families: yes

Refreshments on the way: various pubs and tea houses


Best Time: You can hike the Cleveland Way any time of the year, but if you want to see the heather in bloom, come late August and early September.

Starting point: Helmsley, North Yorkshire

Endpoint: Filey Brigg, North Yorkshire

Alternative: If you don't want to do the hike in one go, you can also use public transport to only walk sections.

Requirement: Anyone who is reasonably fit can hike the Cleveland Way. The route is challenging in places, particularly in the Cleveland Hills and along some stretches of coastline, but that makes the trail a special experience. The route is well signposted throughout, but an up-to-date map or GPS map material is essential.


Filming location for "All creatures great and small"

The English Yorkshire Moors were made famous by the TV series "All creatures great and small" in the seventies. As Country Veterinarian James Herriot is responsible for making me want to be a vet (unfortunately I can't see blood) I am drawn to this corner of England. The up to 200m high cliffs, sandy beaches, tea houses, quaint pubs, rough wonderful coastal paths and above all the beautiful coastal villages make me fall in love on the spot.


Click on the first picture to open the photo gallery and learn more:
Robin Hood's Bay - Love at first sight
Cleveland Way England North Yorkshire Coastal Walk Robin Hoods Bay Old Houses Sunshine King Charles III England Coast Path

The village of Robin Hood's Bay alone deserves a 10 page article - I've never seen a cuter village in my life. Supposedly you could smuggle a barrel from the harbor up to the country road here in the past without ever having to go onto the road. So many secret passages and tunnels are said to exist here.


In Whitby Abbey, Dracula haunts the ruins of Whitby Abbey

If you like things spooky and mysterious you can also sneak around the ruins of Whitby Abbey for a bit at night and see if Bram Stoker's Dracula has a tryst - it served as both inspiration for the author and stop for the Earl on his trip to Europe.

I can already see hordes of teenagers sighing with anticipation who have read too many Twilight novels...


General Info:

More information on the individual stages, accommodation, pubs and the current status of the trail can be found at:


Arrive:

If you are traveling with your own means of transport and don't want to travel all over England, you can also take the ferry directly from Amsterdam to Newcastle. It's quicker via Dover. www.dfds.com

There are direct flights from Frankfurt to either Newcastle or Manchester.

At www.billiger-mietwagen.de you can find prices for Compare and book rental cars.


Sleep:

The National Trust offers historical accommodation to stay overnight. The Landmark Trust also offers such accommodation. I've always wanted to stay in this converted pigsty sleep in the form of a temple …

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