Cleveland Way Walk

Day 1: Helmsley to Sutton Bank via Rievaulx Bridge, Cold Kirby, and The White Horse.
Day 2: Sutton Bank to Osmotherley via Whitestone Cliff, High Paradise Farm, White Gill Head, and Oakdale.
Day 3: Osmotherley to Clay Bank via Arncliffe Wood, Scugdale, Carlton Bank, Lords Stone, Cringle End, Wain Stones, and Hasty Bank.
Day 4: Clay Bank to Nwton under Roseberry vis Urra Moor, Bleworth Crossing, Tidy Brown Hill, Battersby Moor, Kildale, Captain Cook’s Monument, Gribdale, Newton Moor, and Roseberry Topping.
Day 5: Newton under Roseberry to Saltburn via Roseberry Common, Hutton Moor, Highcliff Nab, Guisborough Woods, Charltons, Airy Hill Farm, Skelton and Skelton Beck.
Day 6: Saltburn to Staithes via Huntcliff, Cattersty Sands, Hummersea Point, Loftus Alum Quarries and Boulby.
Day 7: Staithes to Whitby via Port Mulgrave, Lingrow Cliffs, Runswick Bank Top and Bay, Hob Holes, Kettleness Farm, Overdale, Sandsend and Whitby West Cliff.
Day 8: Whitby to Robin Hoods Bay via Blackburn’s Yard, Donkey Trail, Whitby Abbey, Saltwick Bay, Whitby Fog Station, and Oakham Beck.
Day 9: Robin Hoods Bay to Scarborough via the Beach, Stoupe Beck, Peak Alum Works, Ravenscar, Hayburn Wyke, Cloughton Wyke, Long Nab and Scalby Mills.
Day 10: Scarborough to Filey Brigg via Scarborough Castle, The Spa, Holbeck Gardens, Wheatcroft Cliff, Cayton Bay, Lebberston Cliff, Gristhorpe Cliff, Newbiggin Cliff and North Cliff.

On Day 1 it rained heavily from about 11am for the rest of the day. On Day 2 there were showers through the day, although not as heavy as the previous day. The view west from the top of Sutton Bank is claimed to be the best view in England, however on neither day did we see it at its best. From Day 3 to the end the weather was fine, dry and warm with occasional strong blustery winds. Views across the moors and up and down the coast were extensive and outstanding. These were 8 days of perfect walking weather

The holiday(!) was booked through Contours whom we have used for previous ventures. They once again provided us with good accommodation and Sherpa delivered our luggage despite Sutton Bank being closed for a week for re-surfacing. On two nights our hosts drove us to local pubs for meals. Elsewhere there was a good choice of eating places.
Helmsley does not have a rail station and the bus service from the nearest station at Malton has been axed. We therefore took the train to York and bus to Helmsley. We returned by Train from Filey. All our transport connections worked well.
Waymarking of the route was excellent. The national trail acorn was everywhere, supplemented on parts of the coastal path by English Coastal Path markers. Paths and tracks were well used and well worn. The busiest stretch was between Whitby and Robin Hoods Bay.
The North Yorkshire Moors National Park Authority produces a “passport” for Cleveland Way walkers to be stamped at various points en route. On completion walkers receive a “certificate” and a questionnaire. Unfortunately not all the “stamping points” are still open. In particular North Yorkshire County Council has closed all of its Tourism/Visitor centres.
The heather was just past its best but still provided vibrant colour. There were plenty of grouse about and particularly on Day 1 we saw lots of pheasants. On coastal cliffs we saw fulmars.