Runswick Bay ~ Hard Walk

Distance: 7.5 miles   Time to complete walk: 4 hours

Safety Tips: This is a challenging walk, a walking stick is essential as the woodland part of the walk can be very muddy after rainfall. The path out of Runswick Bay is very steep. This walk has the Staithes walk incorporated into it and has stunning view of the cliffs of Staithes, be careful on the cliff top path.

A rewarding and challenging walk which starts at the village of Runswick Bay a village perched on the North Yorkshire coast. It passes through woodland and through the village of Staithes before rewarding you with jaw-dropping views of the cliffs and coastline on the way back to Runswick Bay along the Cleveland Way. There is challenging climbing in this walk at the very start at Runswick Bay and after leaving Staithes. Take a walking stick as the woodland part of the walk can become very muddy after rainfall. Please allow time for stopping and taking in the amazing views on the return to Runswick Bay!

 

 

The Runswick Bay Walk

Getting There

From Middlesbrough follow the A174 through Saltburn via Saltburn bank and continue on the A174 coastal road. The Runswick Bay turnoff is a left turn after the Staithes turn off. Parking is best to be found in the public car park near the bottom of the steep road into Runswick Bay before the roundabout.

 

Map of the Runswick Bay walk

 

 

The Walk

 

 

From the car park turn left and make your way up the very steep bank away from the village to Runswick Bank top. This is a very steep walk and at the beginning of the walk, however there is no more climbing until you progress your way into Staithes and from Staithes.

 

Climb to the top of Runswick Bank 

 

 

Bear left at the top and follow Hinderwell Lane walking over 400 metres until you come to a waymarked stile to your left.

 

 

 

Stile on left of the lane

Make your way through two fields keeping the hedge to your left.

 

Walk through fields

 

 

Soon you will come to a main road. Taking care turn right but then look for the first left turning which is a road into Newton Mulgrave. Follow this road into Newton Mulgrave passing through the hamlet until you come to a track to the right. This can be found approximately 300 yards after the hamlet.

 

 

Take track on the right

 

 

This track passes to the side of a field and looking for a gate, keep on the track to your left which will have a fence to your left and a hedge on your right.

 



 

 

Keep to the left of the gate

 

Follow the track and follow it so you are walking above the wood. Soon you will see a path leading into the wood to the left - take this path and enter the woods.

 

 

 

Take the left path into the woods

 

 

The path into the woods can get muddy in wet weather. However it is negotiable if you take a walking stick and extra care. Keep ahead at a junction on the path and you will soon emerge into a clearing (if you have completed the Staithes walk this will be familiar to you). A pitstop can be taken on a bench to the right.

 

 

Emerge into a clearing

 

 

As the path goes on it eventually passes a caravan site. Turn left to pass the site and then right to cross over a bridge.

 

 

 

Cross over the bridge

 

 

Keep following the way to Dalehouses at a sign.

 

 

 

Sign to Dalehouses





 

The track will end at a lane. Turn right and pass by the Fox and Hounds pub. Complete another gradual climb onto the main road ahead. Turn right and take the road left into Staithes.

 





 

 

Follow the road down into Staithes which drops down into the charming fishing village. Another pitstop can be made in Staithes.

 

 

 

Cod and Lobster in Staithes

 

View of cliff at Staithes

 

 

At the Cod and Lobster follow the road up which is a climb and you will come to a sign for the Cleveland Way. Follow the stepped path up until you come to a farm.

 

 

 

                                    Follow the Cleveland Way signs

 

After the farm continue on the path ahead and you will then come to another climb up a grassy slope. Take the middle slope it is easier, however most will find both options a challenge. The reward for the tough climb is a magnificent view of the coastline.

 

 

Keep ahead

 

View of coastline

 

 

Looking behind you will see Staithes and ahead you can see the headland of Kettleness. Follow the path taking care when taking photos. Safety first! Following the Cleveland Way you will soon come into Port Mulgrave. Pass by some buildings and look for a turning on the left where the Cleveland Way continues.



 

 

 

Cleveland Way sign at Port Mulgrave

 

 

Follow the Cleveland Way coming across more stunning views of the coastline and keep on the path which eventually leads away from the coastline into Runswick Bay itself. Do some more exploring of the labyrinth of cottages. There are plenty of places to eat and have some well-earned refreshments!

 

 

 

Runswick Bay

 

 

Runswick Bay

 

Some eight miles north of Whitby, the pictureque village of Runswick Bay clings to the cliffs at the end of a long sandy beach.  At the end of the steep descent from Hinderwell village, you have to leave cars in the car park and explore the village on foot.
Many cottages have been lost to the sea over the centuries. Though the village is now protected by a sea-wall, the rate of erosion can be judged from the row of beach huts on the cliff to the south of the village. This is the last of five such rows that stood on the site years ago.  In order to increase the family income, the fisherfolk would live in such huts during the summer months while letting their cottages to the artists and holiday-makers who flocked to the village after the railway was built.

One benefit of the continued erosion of the cliffs is the constantly refreshed supply of fossils. Ammonites abound, locked into small ironstone pebbles scattered along the beach. The fossil remains of a Plesiosaurus and an Ichthyosaurus were found here a century ago and are now in Whitby Museum.

The local lifeboat is still actively supported and has a brave history.  On one occasion, the womenfolk of the village launched and crewed the boat, to rescue their menfolk who had been caught offshore in a freak squall.
Local legends include the Boggles of Claymore Well and Hob of Hob Hole.  If your child was suffering from ‘t’Kink Cough’ (Whooping Cough) your only hope of a cure was to carry them along the beach, lay them down within the Hob’s Hole (a cave) and build a fire of driftwood and seaweed collected from the beach.  Once the fire is going, carry your child round and round the fire (clockwise, of course), chanting ‘Hob Hole Hob, Hob Hole Hob, Me bairn’s getten y’Kink Cough,  Tak it off! Tak it off!’ (Hob Hole Hob, Hob Hole Hob, My child has caught Whooping Cough, Take it away! Take it away!)
NB: The Esk Valley Railway does NOT serve Runswick Bay. There used to be two rail lines from Whitby to Middlesbrough. The one through the Esk Valley is still running. The one that ran along the coast via Runswick and Staithes was closed because of cliff slippages. 



 

 

 



Nunnington ~ Easy Walk

Distance: 4.5 miles   Time to complete walk: 2 hours

Safety Tips: A safe walk with no issues

A pleasant walk around the countryside surrounding the village of Nunnington. Starting and ending at the impressive Nunnington Hall, the walk can be started or finished with a visit to the country house. Nunnington Hall do a traditional English afternoon tea! Ideal for a full day out, especially if the weather is nice.

 

 

The Nunnington Walk

 

 

Getting There

 

 

From  Middlesbrough follow the A172 to Stokesley and then look for the B127 which goes through Great Broughton and follow this to Helmsley. Pass through Helmsley on the road to Scarborough. Immediately after Helmsley look for a right turning to the village of  Harome. Pass through the village and follow the signs to Nunnington, which is a right turning after Harome. As you come into Nunnington look for a left turning into Nunnington Hall. There are ample parking spaces.

 

 

 

 

Map of Nunnington Walk

 



The Walk

 

From Nunnington Hall turn left and cross a bridge and then follow the road to the right into Nunnington. The road eventually bends left and passes a church and the Royal Oak pub.

 

 



 

Church in Nunnington

 

 

At the end of the road cross over and follow a bridleway that rises across fields.

 



 

Bridleway

 

Follow the bridleway until it reaches a crest. There are beautiful views of the countryside as you make your way to the crest of the bridleway.

 

 

View from the bridleway

 

 

As you reach the crest, look for a left turning which is on an avenue of Scots Pine. Follow this track which crosses over a road at the beginning and keep on the track which is a pleasant walk with no incline.



 

 

Track continues

 



Keeping on the track for a good while, until you come to a crossing track. Turn left and then immediately right at a fork down another track Caulkleys Lane. You will emerge onto a lane at the bottom,  go left at a junction and then right, signed Welburn and Kirkbymoorside.

 

 

Right turning ahead

 

 

You will now pass West Ness Farm and look out for a stall to the left selling sweets and home baked goods. Items can be purchased and are paid for using an honesty box. Before you come to Ness Bridge, look for field to the left and enter it.

 

 



 

Follow the path keeping to the right at the edge of the fields, passing through a number of kissing gates. Keep on the path until you come to Mill Farm. Pass through the farmyard past an old mill to a stile.

 

 

Old Mill

 

Pass the mill and follow the course of the river to another stile. Then cross the field and head towards the left of the high wall surrounding Nunnington Hall.

 

 

Head to the left of the wall to a gate

 





  

Continue  beside the grounds of Nunnington Hall past some estate cottages. Leave the field at the far corner and go onto a lane. Turn right and go over the bridge back to Nunnington Hall. I would highly recommend a visit to this country house. It is well worth the time.

 

 

 



 

 

Nunnington Hall

 

Nunnington Hall is a country house situated in the English county of North Yorkshire. The river Rye, which gives its name to the local area, Ryedale, runs past the house, flowing away from the village of Nunnington. A stone bridge over the river separates the grounds of the house from the village. Above, a ridge known as Caulkley's Bank lies between Nunnington and the Vale of York to the south. The Vale of Pickering and the North York Moors lie to the north and east. Nunnington Hall is owned, conserved and managed as a visitor attraction by the National Trust.
The first Nunnington Hall was mentioned in the thirteenth century and the site has had many different owners. They include William Parr, Dr Robert Huicke, Richard Graham, 1st Viscount Preston, the Rutson family and the Fife family. The present building is a combination of seventeenth and eighteenth century work. Most of the building seen today was created during the 1680s, when Richard Graham, 1st Viscount Preston, was its owner.

It was William Parr, 1st Marquess of Northampton, brother of queen consort Catherine Parr, who built the oldest parts of the surviving house of Nunnington, which now form part of the west front. Following the forfeiture of the estate after his death in 1571 (for his part in setting Lady Jane Grey on the throne), Nunnington was again subject to let. One of the tenants was Dr Robert Huicke who was physician to both Catherine Parr and Elizabeth I. Dr Huicke was to be the one to tell the Queen that she would never have children. Huicke never lived at Nunnington however and the estate was managed by stewards. The sub-lease was granted to Thomas Norcliffe in 1583 and the family made many alterations over the next sixty years.
In 1603 George Watkins and others were granted a lease of the manor for thirty-one years. After 25 years, however, it was granted to Edward Ditchfield and others of the City of London, who sold it the same year for £3,687 to John Holloway who held the manor in 1630. By 1655 the manor had been sold for £9,500 by Humphrey Thayer to Ranald Graham, a merchant of Lewisham. Ranald was succeeded by his nephew Sir Richard Graham of Netherby, who was created Viscount Preston in 1681. He was attainted in 1689 for attempting to join James II in France and his lands and property were confiscated, but later returned after he was pardoned. He was succeeded by his son and heir Edward, the 2nd Viscount and he in turn by his son Charles, 3rd and last Viscount Preston. Charles' heirs on his death in 1739 were his aunts, Mary Graham and Catherine, Lady Widdrington, who were granted joint possession of the manor of Nunnington in 1748. Mary died unmarried and Lady Widdrington left her estates to Sir Bellingham Graham, Bt., of Norton Conyers. The property then descended in the Norton Conyers Graham family until 1839, when it was sold to William Rutson of Newby Wiske, the son of a Liverpool merchant.
The hall was inherited in 1920 by Rustons' great-niece Margaret Rutson, who had married Ronald D'Arcy Fife. They undertook a major renovation of the property in the 1920s using the architect Walter Brierley. Mrs. Susan Clive (née Fife) gave Nunnington Hall and its gardens to the National Trust in 1952.
The Hall stands within 8 acres (32,000 m²) of organically managed grounds, with the main walled garden lying to the south of the building. The Walled Garden includes lawns, orchards, formal Rose beds, mixed borders, a Tea Garden, and an Iris Garden. The orchards are managed as wildflower meadows containing flowers such as Cowslip, Primrose, Snake's Head Fritillary, Buttercup and Camassia all growing below the fruit trees of which most are traditional Ryedale varieties. Another feature of the gardens are the resident peacocks. On 10 June 2007 Bluey, head of the peacock family, died under suspicious circumstances.