Cleveland Way Summary

We did it, we backpacked the Cleveland Way National Trail in 7 days, plus an evening, and we loved it.

Total miles walked = 121
Cleveland Way Miles = 111
Extra miles to and from campsites = 10
Average miles per day = 16.7 

Cleveland Way sign -The Acorn symbolises a  National Trail 

The Cleveland Way is advertised, depending on where you read, as 106, 109 or 110 miles long.  Our GPS measured it at 111 miles long.   The differences probably arise depending on whether you walk the two optional extentions and the fact that there is no official route through Scarborough.

Although not in any way comparable to thru hiking the Appalachian Trail (the AT terrain is far more difficult and the trail far more remote and we won't have the luxury of showers every night) it has given us an insight into what daily hiking carrying a 30lb pack with just the very basic requirements and camping every night feels like.  
We thoroughly enjoyed our week, even the wet day, and it's just made us more excited about thru hiking the AT next year.


See below or the Blog Archive Menu Bar to the right for our Cleveland Way daily blogs and photos.

Cleveland Way Day 8 - Sadly the last day!

Day 8 

Scalby, Scarborough to Filey

Walked 14 miles

11.5 CW Miles + 0.25 extra mile from campsite & 2.25 miles around Filey. 

We woke up to another glorious sunny day for our last day of walking.  We've been so lucky with the weather this week. A lazy pack up this morning, we were in no rush as our train home from Filey is not until 7pm. Just a banana for breakfast to keep us going to Scarborough - no porridge left, we've eaten all the food we bought with us. 

As its the last day we decided we'd treat ourselves and buy food today.  After a 45 minute walk we arrived in North Bay, Scarborough where we stopped for a cooked English Breakfast sitting outside in the sun.  

There is no official Cleveland Way route through Scarborough so from there we wondered all the way along the seafront to South Bay enjoying watching everyone doing their own thing in the sun. Dogs on the beach were having a fantastic playful time. There were a few surfers out trying to find a wave in the small surf and a handful of sailing boats racing by. 

We stopped again at the end of South Bay at the newly opened Clock Tower Cafe for coffee & cake, again a nice seat outside in the sun people watching. This kept us going until the evening and for the last 9 miles to the finish.

The Cleveland Way finished on the headland just before entering Filey with a carved stone to mark the end (similar to the start).  It was another mile into Filey itself. 

We had a wonder round Filey, it didn't take long it's not a big place, so we were left with time to kill.  A cuppa near the beach, a wonder through the park where a brass band were playing, Sunday papers and a couple of drinks in The Star pub then an excellent value pizza during Happy Hour at an Italian restaurant (can't remember its name).

We caught our 7pm train home.  Looking forward to seeing our lovely dog Bella who'd have loved the walk but it was too far & too hot for her sadly to join us. 

Also looking forward to a nice bath and clean clothes - we whiff a bit!  

Photos from today:

Scarborough North Bay in the distance 

An oversized metal old man on an oversized bench, North Bay

South Bay

Cayton  Bay

Looking back to Scarborough 

The End!

Just need to get to Filey!

Cleveland Way Day 7 - Eggs & Eccles cakes

Day 7

Robin Hoods Bay to Scalby, Scarborough 

Walked 14 miles

13 CW Miles + 1 extra mile from & to campsites

Thankfully the rain stopped later last night and we awoke this morning to a blustery but gorgeous sunny day, perfect for drying our wet clothes.   We managed to get away from the campsite by 9.30am. 

We walked to the bottom of the steep street running through Robin Hoods Bay and across the beach to Boggle Hole (great name). Here it was a steep climb back to the cliff top. We had a lot of these short, steep steps up and down this morning as the path kept returning to sea level at each cove we passed. A good leg workout today!  We stopped for a quick snack on a bench with great views back to Robin Hoods Bay. It was uphill from there to Ravenscar past some old Alum works. We declined the tea shop there this time!

From here the path levelled until we reached Hayburn Wyke. Here it was a steep downhill again via wooden steps and boardwalk to the bay. We sat here for a while to refuel. Our bag of snacks today consisted of bananas, hard boiled eggs, Eccles cakes & chocolate raisins! We never have a proper lunch break during the day when walking, just have quick snack stops every couple of hours. 

From here it was uphill again on to Scalby. We tackled a lot more short steep up & down sections followed by lots of leveller but in and out sections as the coastline snaked around bays. Many people think coastal paths are easy strolls along cliff tops, how wrong they are.
 A bit more variety in the landscape today instead of just fields to the right and sea to the left of the path! We had some heathland and forest sections which were a pleasant change. 

We arrived at Scalby Manor campsite about 3.30pm. A very large Camping & Caravan Club site. Reasonable for size at £8.30pp. Owner really friendly, good facilities and we have a nice quiet spot next to a wooden gazebo we can use so give it a 3*. 

Last day tomorrow :-(

Photos from today - not many, foggy lens, phone got wet and needed to dry out from rain yesterday

Had a lovely rest stop in this cove

Cleveland Way Day 6 - Scampi, Dracula & Rain!

Day 6 

Runswick Bay to Robin Hoods Bay

Walked 16 miles

15 CW Miles + 1 extra mile from & to campsites.

Rained during the night and rained all day!  We were packed and away for 8.30am and walked down the steep road into Runswick Bay. A short walk along the beach before bearing off up a rocky gully onto the headland again. We walked along the cliff past Kettleness to Sandsend. Here we had a welcome cafe break from the rain. From here we walked a couple more miles into Whitby. Not a single Cleveland Way sign but we saw signs for Capt Cook, Whaling ships, Dracula tours by night and Whitby Scampi. We went for the latter! Delicious. 

Back onto the trail up through old Whitby and up the steep steps past Whitby Abbey ruins. Raining even heavier after lunch it was heads down and feet forward through the driving rain for the last 7 miles to Robin Hoods Bay. We past Hawkser Bottoms were we picked up the very last section of the coast to coast path again. We didn't see any C2C hikers finishing though, we only saw 4 other hikers all day along this usually busy stretch of path. 

We managed our first successful pitch of the tent in the rain at Hook's House Farm campsite just north of Robin Hoods Bay. A few wet clothes to try and dry off in the morning though... Waterproofs only keep you dry for so long in prolonged heavy rain! 

We award this site 3*. Great views but a busy site with people turning up for the weekend at this tourist hot spot. A sloping site but really good toilet and shower facilities. Reasonable price £7pp for Robin Hoods Bay location. 

Photos from today:
Looking back towards Runswick Bay

Looking back to Robin Hoods Bay

Whitby Abbey 

Capt. Cook statue 

 

Looking across Whitby

Sheep all sheltering behind a wall from the driving rain!

Cleveland Way Day 5 - To The Coast!

Day 5

Slapewath to Runswick Bay

Walked 18 miles

17 CW Miles + 1 extra mile from & to campsites.

Woke up early and picked some fresh blackberries to go with our breakfast porridge from some blackberry bushes right behind our tent.  We were packed up and walking by 7.40am today! 

We're heading to the coast! 

A steep start over Airey Hill where we could see the sea not too far away in the distance. It was a cloudy and hazy start to the day but warm with no wind. We dropped down through Skelton then via the Saltburn Valley to the seaside and the Pier at Saltburn. Nigel had been talking about one all the way to the sea so we stopped for a superb second breakfast  - Full English this time, at the Surfs Up cafe. This kept us going for 9 miles along the Cleveland Coast path via Skinningrove and on to Staithes. This old fishing village was so quaint and pretty,  much nicer than the more popular Robin Hoods Bay we'll be heading to tomorrow.  It was the perfect place to stop for a real dairy cinder toffee ice cream! The sun was out now and it was getting quite hot, no sea breeze today to cool us down. 

From here it was just another hour of walking continuing along the coastal path to reach Runswick Bay at 3.30pm, our finish point for today. A quick drink to cool down in the pub before heading round the corner to Runswick Bay Camp Site. 

A nice quiet site with caravans and tents in separate areas and lots of trees planted to keep it natural. We award it 3*. It's cheap again £6 pp, friendly owner and decent toilet & shower block. 

We went back to the pub in the evening for another quick drink and to sit on some proper chairs whilst writing this! 

We have so far walked 72.6 miles of the Cleveland Way.  Two thirds down, one third to go. 

Photos from today:

Sculptured metal benches on route to Saltburn

Nearly at Saltburn 

Saltburn Pier

Breakfast no2!

Banksy style wall art!

And so along the Cleveland Coast ...

Looking back over Saltburn 

There was no signage to say what this attractive iron sculpture was all about, the area is an old ironstone mining area though.

Down to Skinninggrove

Into the old pretty fishing village of Staithes