I have felt for some time now that there is a lack of up to date walks that are based in and around Whitby. Therefore, it has been a labour of love to compile a wide range that should suit ALL needs. They all radiate from Whitby, some are entirely on foot and others utilise the excellent local public transport network to get to the start/finish points.

It would be nice to think that some money for charity could be raised from all of this one day … and only one really came to mind (and in the hearts of many Whitby folk) … the RNLI. However, I have no stomach for crossing the commercial and copyright minefield that would ensue (a massive thanks to Tony D for offering to help me with this anyway!) ... when all I want to do is produce high-quality walks!

For each walk, a leaflet has been produced (with colossal help from Wojchiech!) containing: relevant information/statistics/points of interest. All are accompanied by the route on the latest (1:25,000) digital mapping.

Compiling the points of interest seemed to take me an eternity to produce … 99% of research is discarded, only the relevant is extracted! I have the urge to tell every single minute detail about the area (it’s like trying to condense ‘War & Peace’ onto 1/2 page of foolscap!). The limited space I have does however discipline me to only deliver bite-sized pieces (manageable to read and digest during the walk). I do tend to dwell on one particular topic, pertinent to the route, for each walk. This has allowed me to build up a comprehensive insight, over the full series of leaflets, into this fascinating part of the world … I love the final result!

PT = requires public transport / Car = suitable for self driving to start & finish point

STRENUOUS (A-GRADE):

1 – Whitby Circular via Mickleby (coastal/woodland) … ” Mad Cows & Englishmen”

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2 – Whitby Circular via Littlebeck (valley/woodland) … “The Valley That Never Was”

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3 – Cloughton to Whitby via Robin Hood’s Bay (coastal) … ” Cliffs, Klaxons & Cloisters” PT

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4 – Hinderwell to Whitby via Boulby (coastal/woodland) … ” The Germans Are Coming” PT

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5 – Hole of Horcum Circular via Lockton (moorland/valley) … “From Russia With Love” PT / Car

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6 – Castleton to Glaisdale via Botton (moorland/valley) … ” ” PT

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7 – Scaling Dam to Whitby via Egton (moorland/valley) … “On The Radar” PT

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MODERATE (B-GRADE):

10 – Grosmont to Whitby via Beck Hole (valley/woodland) … “Stepping on Stone & Iron” PT

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11 – Grosmont to Whitby via Sneaton (moorland/valley) … “Mule Train Over The Moors” PT

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12 – Fylingthorpe to Whitby via Littlebeck (moorland/valley) … “True Or False?” PT

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13 – Lealholm to Whitby via Grosmont (valley/woodland) … “A Fish Called Meander” PT

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14 – Levisham Circular via Keldy (moorland/valley) … ” ” PT

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15 – Staithes to Whitby via Runswick Bay (coastal) … ” ” PT

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16 – Ravenscar to Whitby via Robin Hood’s Bay (coastal) … “” PT

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17 – Gerrick to Staithes via Loftus (woodland/coastal) … “” PT

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EASY (C-GRADE):

20 – Whitby Circular via Sandsend (coastal/woodland) … “Elephants & Castles”

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21 – Fylingthorpe to Whitby via Hawsker Bottoms (coastal) … ” Wall Of Sound” PT

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22 – Grosmont Circular via Goathland (valley/woodland) … “Falling For Ewe” PT

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23 – Flask Inn to Hawsker via Robin Hoods Bay (coastal/woodland) … “Bang A Drum” PT

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24 – Thornton-le-Dale Circular via Dalby Forest (valley/woodland) … “Gone To The Dogs” PT / Car

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25 – Hole of Horcum to Pickering via Levisham (moorland/valley/woodland) … “Land Of The Giants” PT–

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VERY EASY (D-GRADE):

30 – East Barnby to Whitby via Sandsend (coastal/woodland) … “A Tale Of Three Castles” PT

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31 – Thornton-le-Dale Circular via Dalby Forest (valley/woodland) … “Run Rabbit Run” PT

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32 – Hawsker to Whitby via Ruswarp (valley/woodland) … “In The Footsteps Of Monks” PT

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33 – Whitby Circular via Sandsend (coastal) … “Now You Sea It … Now You Don’t”

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34 – Runswick Bay to Whitby via Sandsend (coastal) … “Two Tunnels & A Funeral” PT

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35 – Goathland to Grosmont via Beck Hole (valley) … “Do Spare The Horses” PT

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36 – West Barnby to Whitby via Sandsend (valley/woodland) … “If You Dare Go Down In The Woods To-day …” PT

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37 – Robin Hood’s Bay to Whitby via Stainsacre (coastal/woodland) … “A Cinder Surprise” PT

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38 – Pickering Circular via Scalla (valley/woodland) … “Pike, Paintings & Poachers” PT

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DISABLED-FRIENDLY:

40 – Whitby Circular … “Parks, Proms & Pistachio” PT

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HISTORICAL TOWN WALK:

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CLEVELAND WAY:

This is my take on this classic long-distance path. It is broken down into daily sections (of around 18 miles) and is crammed packed with up to date information, mapping and points of interest.

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HISTORY WALKS

Grinkle Mine to Port Mulgrave Tramway (5.8 miles)

Grinkle Mine was an ironstone mine working the main Cleveland Seam. Initially, the ironstone was mined specifically for the furnaces at the Palmer Shipbuilders in Jarrow but later became independent of Palmers.

To enable the output from the mine to be exported, a three-mile narrow-gauge tramway was constructed … it ran across three viaducts and through two tunnels to a harbour at Port Mulgrave, where ships would transport the ore to Tyneside.

During WWI, the threat of wartime action on the harbour led to a connection being built from the mine site direct to the main Whitby to Loftus railway line just to the north of the mine head. Whilst this allowed for the closure of the port to shipping in 1917 (it was blown up!), the tramway stayed open to transport miners from Port Mulgrave to the mine site.

The mine first ceased production in 1921, with sporadic years of mining taking place. However, the mine was closed for good in 1930 and part of the site is now underneath the surface working of the more modern Boulby Potash Mine complex, though some buildings remain at ground level.

The Walk … traces the course of the old tramway (over the tunnel sections). It starts in earnest deep inside Easington Woods and in the shadow of the giant Boulby Mine. Onto Ridge Lane, before dropping down into Roxby Woods and Dalehouse. Skirting Seaton Hall, the route heads for the clifftops before steeply descending down onto the beach at Port Mulgrave.

Loftus to Whitby Railway ~ section for this walk: Kettleness to Whitby (5.8 miles)