Covid-19 Guided Walk for One. Number 6: The Cleveland Way

Posted on 26/08/2020 By

The Cleveland Way

Each of those Whitby holidays was two weeks with grandchildren in August. The agreement was that Bobby had one day completely to himself. To walk along The Cleveland Way from Whitby. Either north towards Staithes. Or south to Robin Hood’s Bay and Scarborough.

Map of North Yorkshire and The Cleveland Way.

In more recent times, we have been back regularly to stay near Whitby. And this time he look me on the walk to Robin Hood’s Bay. A distance of six miles, getting the bus back to Whitby. Once, when he was considerably fitter, he got the bus to Robin Hood’s Bay and walked south all the way to Scarborough. A further fifteen miles. A map is shown above, but it’s hard to go wrong. Heading north, keep the sea on your right. Going south, sea on the left. Well signed when the path deviates inland for short periods. This is only a small section of the Cleveland Way. “One day” you, maybe, or us, maybe, will go back to North Yorkshire as we did in 840 to Whitby …. by train to York and that wonderful bus ride to Whitby. We hope it survives. For now, it’s just memories. Too far to drive up there on your own now.

The walk starts at the famous 199 steps up to the church and Abbey in Whitby.

Bertie on the 199 steps up to Whitby Abbey.

199 up.

199 down with a glorious view across Whitby Bay. Shallow steps and plenty of seats if you feel puffed.

199 down with a glorious view across Whitby Bay. Shallow steps and plenty of seats if you feel puffed.

Whitby Abbey.

Whitby Abbey… and Dracula maybe.

Looking across the bay from Whitby Church and Abbey.

Looking across the bay from Whitby Church and Abbey.

Heading south on the Cleveland Way.

Heading south on the Cleveland Way.

Bertie sat on a wall in front of Whitby Lighthouse.

Whitby Lighthouse. On the way to Robin Hood’s Bay.

Bertie in front of the Whitby Lighthouse foghorns.

Whitby Lighthouse foghorns. I wouldn’t want to be there when they are working!

Bertie sat on the cliffs.

Close to the Lighthouse a colony of Kittiwakes. (Click on the picture!)

Interpretation Board showing a daring sea rescue.

Looks pretty hairy to me.

Bench overlooking Robin Hood's Bay.

Turning into Robin Hood’s Bay.

Narrow roadway between stone buildings heading down towards Robin Hood's Bay.

Robin Hood’s Bay. We came down!

Robin Hood’s Bay.

Robin Hood’s Bay.

Bertie sat on a bench on front of a plaque marking the end of the Coast to Coast Walk - all 192 miles of it!

Bertie sat on a bench on front of a plaque marking the end of the Coast to Coast Walk - all 192 miles of it! A view of the bay in the background.

Bobby always wanted to do the Coast to Coast. I don’t think he will now!

From here you can walk back to Whitby or do as we did and walk up to the top of the village and get the bus back. It’s a glorious ride over the North Yorks Moors. But, if you really are keen, you can carry on south to Scarborough. When he did it a few years ago, he started at Robin Hood’s Bay.

Steep steps of the Cleveland Way up the side of a stone built house.

Leaving Robin Hood’s Bay by the Cleveland Way. Uphill!

National Trust dign for "Boggle Hole".

In a short distance it is down to sea level again at Boggle Hole.

Heading south on a glorious morning with the sun glinting off the water in the bay on the left.

Heading south on a glorious morning.

Looking back to Robin Hood’s Bay.

Looking back to Robin Hood’s Bay.

A Sustrans millennium post near Ravenscar.

A Sustrans millennium post near Ravenscar.

Glorious view over Robin Hood's Bay with the sun reflecting off the sea.

It’s a beautiful walk.

Ravenscar Radar Station alongside the coast path. It is now National Trust. To read more, see below.

Ravenscar Radar Station alongside the coast path. It is now National Trust. To read more, click on the link below.

Ravenscar Radar Station.

Coast near Scarborough.

Nearing Scarborough.

Narrow pathway at Hayburn Wyke.

Hayburn Wyke. We stayed on the path, but there is a beach here and local amenities.

Looking up the narrow pathway steps at Hayburn Wyke.

Hayburn Wyke.

Fake steam engine at Peasholm Park, Scarborough.

And finally the classic seaside resort of Scarborough. The grandchildren loved Peasholm Park and the railway. Bobby was less impressed that this lovely engine was internal combustion powered.

Fancy a swan ride at Peasholm Park or a naval battle between miniature battle ships?

Fancy a swan ride at Peasholm Park or a naval battle between miniature battle ships?

Beautifully manicured lawn and immaculate, brightly coloured flower beds.

Scarborough B&B.

Scarborough Railway Station.

A very attractive terminus. But trains all head for York. All the bus routes stop outside the station, where you will find the bus back to Whitby. Another beautiful ride over the Moors via Robin Hood’s Bay.

It’s inevitable that everything here is pre Covid. We are desperate to go back to the North East. To Whitby. To Middlesbrough. To the North Yorks Railway and the Cleveland Way. We will go back in Mindfully Bertie to do the northern walk to Staithes. On another day.

Lighting a Candle for Diddley and for Layla.

Layla making her mermaid at the pottery shop.

Remember the pottery shop in Whitby last week? Here is Layla making her mermaid.

It was fired and posted to us back home. She left it with Bobby for safe keeping these last ten years.

The broken mermaid. Snapped at the midrift!

Ummmmm…

The repaired mermaid and a candle lit for Diddley.

Don’t tell Layla. Good old Loctite!

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CountrysideGuided TourWhitby    


  1. David Burton says:

    Lucky you, Bertie. Robin Hood’s Bay, one of my favourite places. The books of Leo Walmsley written in the 1930s about the village and people of ‘Bramblewick’ (easily identifiable as Robin Hood’s Bay) are an absolute joy too.

  2. Phil Barnett says:

    Gill and I did the walk south to Robin Hood’s Bay a few years back – a glorious walk there and back from Whitby. Such a beautiful part of the world. Thank you for the lovely pics that reminded me of a wonderful week at Whitby.

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