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.



 

 

 

 

Scugdale & Live Moor ~ Medium Walk

Distance: 4 miles   Time to complete walk: 2 hours

Safety Tips:  The walk involves open moor walking. Take your walking stick and test the ground ahead of you as there is marshland on the moors. As you are exposed to the elements either wrap up well or use sunscreen depending on the weather when you complete the walk. You have a very good GPS signal here- look for the Cleveland Way and head towards it if you lose your bearings.

A walk that takes you onto the moors for open moor walking, enjoy the silence of the moors as you join the Cleveland Way. Starting at Husthwaite Green which is just outside Swainby, an ideal walk if you wish to experience some peace and solitude. Apply suncream or take a waterproof for your journey across the exposed moors though!

 

 

The Scugdale Live Moor Walk

 

 

Getting There

 

 

From Middlesbrough, go up Ormesby Bank and follow the road to Stokesley. Follow the A172 at a roundabout  before Stokesley and look for a left hand turning for Swainby. Drive through Swainby and look for a left turning which is Scugdale Road. Look for a handful of houses on the left just before the road spilts two ways. Park next to the post box which is just near a sign for the Cleveland Way.

 

 

 

 

Map of the Scugdale Live Moor walk

 

 

The Walk

 

From the post box near where you have parked, follow the road ahead which is still the Scugdale Road. Follow the road and enjoy the pleasant views around you. Look for where the road bends to the right just after you pass Sparrow Hall and take a left turning.

 

 

 

Sign for Sparrow Hall

 



Turn left onto the gently rising farm track away from the road. Walk towards the farm, Fog Close Farm but before you come to the farm itself look for a gate on the right half way up the track. Go through the gate and another gate. Look for a sign and follow this very steeply uphill alongside a stream.

 

 

 

Gate on farm track

 

 

If you follow the stream up the steep climb you will come to the boundary of the farm to the moors.

 

Stile to stream and uphill climb

 

Look for two gate posts and go onto the moor which climbs gently and avoid the marsh just after the  gate. Your walking stick will come in handy here to test the ground is firm. Remember if you get lost here, there is an excellent GPS signal to check your position in Google Maps and you will soon find your bearings. You need to aim uphill through bracken until you come to a stile and join a sandy track.

 

 

 

Cleveland Way



 

Turn right on the sandy track which is quite wide. Follow this track and before it climbs and turns to the right keep your eye open for a path to the left. Follow this path and checking your GPS you will realise you are heading for the Cleveland Way.

 

 

 

Roseberry Topping

 

Follow the Cleveland Way and if you look to the right in the distance you will see Roseberry Topping. Also you will pass two groups of stones or cairns where the Cleveland Way climbs. Don't forget to place another stone on the top of the cairns!

 

 

Cairns along the Cleveland Way

 



 

Follow the Cleveland Way until you come to the edge of a wood and go through the gate.

 

 

Woods from Cleveland Way

 

 

Follow the steep steps downward taking extra care. Follow the path back which will then exit onto the road where you left your car near the post box. I would recommend stopping for refreshments at the lovely village of Swainby which has plenty of pubs and good food.

 

 

Swainby

 

Swainby is a village in the Hambleton district of North Yorkshire, England. It is situated on the A172 road, 8 miles (13 km) north-east from Northallerton and 5 miles (8.0 km) south-east from the small market town of Stokesley.

Swainby is located at the north-western corner of the North York Moors National Park. The characteristics of the village and the surrounding area consist of traditional Yorkshire dry stone walls, hills, sheep, heather and moorland.
The village is close to the ruins of Whorlton Castle; Swainby appears to have been built after its abandonment.
In the 19th century the housing of miners who worked the nearby hills for ironstone and jet led to an expansion of the village.
Swainby contains two public houses, "The Blacksmiths Arms" and "The Black Horse", and a caravan park with farm house

 

 

 

 

Helmsley ~ Easy Walk

Distance Covered: 3 miles   Time to complete walk: 1 hour and 15 minutes

Safety Tips: A very safe walk with no issues

A gentle ramble through the countryside around the town of Helmsley. A walk with no climbing which is through fields and on paths near the river. However the walk could  be incorporated with a visit to Helmsley Castle which is a great detour after or before the walk. There are also many brilliant places to eat in Helmsley itself. Helmsley also has a Bird of Prey centre and Walled Gardens to visit as well.

 

The Helmsley Walk

 

 

Getting There

 

Travelling from Middlesbrough, follow the A19 south to Thirsk. Follow the road from Thrisk which is the A170 up Sutton Bank. Follow the A170 signposted to Scarborough which will eventually pass through Helmsley. Park at the long stay car park which is a left turning and well signposted.

 

 

 

Map of the Helmsley Walk

 

 

The Walk

 

Exit the car park from the end furthest from the entrance, which will pass the entrance to Helmsley Castle. You can go and visit the castle either at the beginning or the end of the walk- its a must see though if you haven't been before.

 

 

Castle Entrance

 

 

Pass the entrance to the castle and follow a walled path. Turn left and looking behind you there's a great view of the castle.

 

 

 

Helmsley Castle

 



Follow the short path noting some good places to eat on your right, in fact Helmsley has a number of cafes so there's plenty to choose from. At a T junction turn right onto a road with a stream flowing down on its left side. Follow this road round to a main road.

 

 

Road with stream on left side

 

 

Cross the road which can be busy, carefully. Turn right and then left into Rygate.

 

 

 

Turn left into Rygate

  

 

Look for a right turning into Sawmill Lane at an Ebor Way footpath sign.

 

 

 

Left into Sawmill lane

 





Walk through an industrial estate then turn right at an Ebor Way sign.

 

 

Follow the path past a timber yard

 

Walk beside the timber yard and into a field. Follow the path and then cross to the right onto another path which is beside the river. Follow the path which will cross a few small footbridges.

 

 

Footbridge

 

Follow the path over a stile and pass a water treatment works. Keep following the path until you come to a gate where the line of trees thins out.

 

 

Gon through gate

 

You will see ahead of you the river bends. Look to the left for a place to follow the rivers bend. Keep following the river until you come to a narrow gap near a power-line pole.

 

 

River bend



 

Bear left to a small gate and go through more gates to pass underneath an old railway bridge.

 

 

 

Bear left at the gate

 

 

 

Railway bridge



 

Turn immediately left and follow the path which now passes through fields.

 

 

 

 



Keep following the path through another gate and you will eventually be opposite the water treatment works. Instead of going through the gate turn right and eventually you will come to another gate. Go through the gate and through another gate onto a path. Follow this round to the junction you came to before the timber yard. Follow the path back into Helmsley. 

 

You are now spoiled for choice to either visit the castle, bird of prey centre or the walled gardens, or for refreshments and food in the many cafes and pub in the town.

 

 



 

 

 

Views of Helmsley Castle

  



Helmsley Castle

 

A castle, constructed in wood around 1120, was built by Walter l'Espec. Walter was childless and on his death in 1154 the castle passed to his sister Adelina who had married Peter de Roos. In 1186 Robert de Ros, son of Everard de Ros, began work on converting the castle to stone. He built two main towers, the round corner towers and the main gateway on the south side of the castle. He died in 1227, granting the castle to his older son William who lived there from 1227 to 1258. The only change made to the castle during this time was the construction of the chapel in the courtyard. William's son, Robert, inherited the castle and was Lord of Helmsley from 1258 to 1285. He raised the east tower and built the new hall and kitchen, as well as strengthening the castle. He built a wall dividing the castle into north and south sides, with the southern half for the private use of the lord's family in the new hall and east tower, and the northern half containing the old hall to be used by the steward and other castle officials. William died in 1316.
Helmsley Castle remained in the possession of the de Roos family until 1478 when Edmund de Roos sold it to Richard, Duke of Gloucester who later became Richard III. Richard did nothing to the castle, staying instead at Middleham Castle. After Richard III's death at the Battle of Bosworth, Helmsley Castle was restored to Edmund de Roos by Henry VII.
Edmund died childless in 1508 and the castle passed to his cousin Sir George Manners of Etal on whose death in 1513 his son Thomas inherited it. He was created Earl of Rutland in 1525. On his death in 1543, Thomas was succeeded by his son, Henry, but it was under the rule of his grandson Edward, that the castle was altered next. He had the old hall converted into a Tudor mansion, converted the 13th-century chapel into a kitchen linked to the old hall by a covered gallery, and knocked the new hall down. The south barbican was converted into a more comfortable residence at this time. A letter of April 1578 describes the slow progress of the mason's work, and that timber was available for a gallery in the attic of the mansion. On Edward's death in 1587 his brother John Manners inherited the castle, followed by John's son Roger, and then Roger's younger brother Francis. On the death of Francis in 1632 the castle passed to George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham through his marriage to Katherine, Francis' daughter.
During the English Civil War, the castle was besieged by Sir Thomas Fairfax in 1644. Sir Jordan Crosland held it for the king for three months before surrendering. Parliament ordered the castle to be slighted and much of the walls, gates and part of the east tower were destroyed. However the mansion was spared. The castle had by this time been inherited by George Villiers, 2nd Duke of Buckingham who married Mary, daughter of Thomas Fairfax in 1657.
After his death in 1687 the castle was sold to Charles Duncombe, a banker and politician who was knighted in 1699 and became Lord Mayor of London in 1708. His sister Mary's husband, Thomas Brown, inherited the castle on Charles's death in 1711. Thomas changed his name to Duncombe. He hired John Vanbrugh to build a country house at Duncombe Park overlooking the castle and left the castle to decay. Although it is still owned by the Feversham family of Duncombe Park, the castle is now in the care of English Heritage.