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
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.
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