HOW TO PLAN A SELF GUIDED WALKING HOLIDAY ALONG THE CLEVELAND WAY
The Cleveland Way National Trail runs for 110 miles. It starts in the pretty market town of Helmsley, crosses the North York Moors National Park, a place of great beauty and tranquility, before meeting the coast at Saltburn. The North Sea section then takes you down via Whitby and Scarborough, past Abbey and Castle to the finish point at Filey Brigg.
Some like the challenge of conquering all 110 miles in one go, but it’s perfectly proportioned to split the route and distance in two and opt for an inland or coastal Cleveland Way Challenge.
The Path is well signposted with the National Trails’ acorn symbol, so you don’t need a guide if you are confident in your ability to walk the distances and there are plenty of travel companies like Contours that will organize B&Bs and baggage transfers from around £620 per person for 4 days walking.
However, the coastal section of The Cleveland Way is on an arriva bus route making it possible to organize your own ‘self guided’ itinerary. If you are prepared to do a bit of the organizing yourself your walking holiday could cost less than £220 per person based on 4 people sharing Sea Fern Cottage and you get to sleep in the same bed each night. Hurrah!
The Cleveland Way self guided ITINERARY – Coastal Section
Day 1 Saltburn-by-the-Sea to Runswick – 12 miles
Drive to Runswick Bay and get the bus to Saltburn then pick up the Cleveland Way and walk back to your car and drive back to Sea Fern Cottage.
Day 2 Runswick to Robin Hood’s Bay – 15.5 miles
Get the bus to Runswick and walk back to Sea Fern Cottage and Robin Hood’s Bay.
Day 3 Robin Hood’s Bay to Scarborough – 13.75 miles
Get the bus to Scarborough and walk back to Sea Fern Cottage and Robin Hood’s Bay.
Day 4 Scarborough to Filey – 11 miles
Drive to Scaborough and get the bus to Filey, pick up the Cleveland Way and walk back to Scarborough and drive back to Sea Fern Cottage at Robin Hood’s Bay.
KEY INFORMATION:
Time of Year: The best time of year to complete this walking challenge is Spring and Autumn.
Terrain: The walking surfaces are generally good, although they can be muddy in places depending upon the time of year. Expect a few steep climbs and descents.
Way marking: The route is well signposted with the National Trails’ acorn symbol.
Where to Stay: We recommend staying in Robin Hoods Bay, because it’s around half way and has a good bus service for getting to the start of the walk each day.
Refreshments: The coastal section of the Cleveland way is really good for café and pub stops without having to deviate from the path. However, it’s always advisable to check that these are open at the time of year and day of the week that you intend to travel.
WHAT YOU WILL NEED:
SNACKS: You will need plenty of water and snacks when walking between 3 and 6 hours a day.
MAP: Waterproof Map for the Cleveland Way.
KIT: Rucksack, spare socks, extra layers, waterproofs and sun cream or hat and gloves depending on the season. Download an essential kit list at Go Outdoors.
ACCOMMODATION: Sea Fern Cottage is accredited as a North York Moors walking friendly place to stay.
We provide kit drying and boot cleaning facilities, route maps & a first aid kit, so that you can book your stay with confidence.
