Hiking the Cleveland Way

In September 2022 I returned to England to attempt another long-distance solo hike, this time on the Cleveland Way in Yorkshire. This is England's 2nd oldest National Trail, completed and opened to hikers in 1969. It is about 108 miles in lenght. I arrived at London Heathrow, took the Heathrow Express to London Paddington, and then a taxi to London Kings Cross station. The short trip took a long time because of all the traffic diversions in place because of the Queen's funeral at Westminster Abbey. From Kings Cross I took a train to York and then a bus to Helmsley, the official start of the Cleveland Way. The first half of the hike was spent inland crossing the moors of the North Yorkshire National Park, and the second half of the hike involves coast walking, starting at the coastal village of Saltburn-by-the-Sea, and then down the North Yorkshire coast to the coastal village of Filey, the terminus of the Cleveland Way. Along the way after leaving Saltburn, the hike took me to the lovely coastal villages along the coast -- Staithes, Whitby, Robin Hood's Bay, Scarborough, and finally, Filey. The scenery crossing the moors was wonderful and the hike along the coast was replete with dramatic cliffs and coastal scenery. I managed to complete the entire trail with the exception of one day when I took a taxi for several miles and another day, because of rain showers and aching feet, I took a bus from Robin Hood's Bay to Scarborough. The hike was much more rigorous than I had anticipated. There was a fair amount of walking on flat terrain, but hiking across the moors involved steep ascents followed by challenging and somewhat dangerous descents as I crossed from one moor to the next. The coastal walking was also challenging at times when a valley or descent down to a beach required hiking down and then back up flights of steps to return to the cliff top. I experienced clement weather with very little rain. I met few hikers attempting the walk the entire distance of 100+ miles but those I did meet were very friendly and interesting people. When I finished the hike I traveled to Looe, a lovely coastal village in Cornwall, for some R & R and more exploring, including a hike on the Southwest Coast Path from Polperro to Looe. After visiting Looe I traveled to Luckington where I visited with my longtime English friend Clive Renton. We spent a wonderful day together exploring Tintern Abbey in Wales. Here are some photos of my hike on the Cleveland Way

The Feathers Hotel, my lodging in Helmsley

The start of the Cleveland Way, and the first of many gates

Lovely Rue Bridge and the church in Helmsley

Rievaulx Bridge

Ruins of Rievaulx Abbey

Sutton Bank and the view author James Herriot called "the finest view in England"

Cairn on Live Moor, at one time a Bronze Age burial mound

Preparing to hike Scarth Wood Moor

The trail up to the top of imposing Roseberry Topping

At the summit of Roseberry Topping

The pretty coastal village of Staithes

My third encounter with hikers Sherry and Kristi

Steps leading down to Skinninggrove Beach

"Circle" sculpture, one of several sculptures along the coastal walk

Dramatic coastal scenery

Rinswick Bank Top Village

Yet more lovely coastal sceney

The Whale Arches at Whitby framing Whitby Abbey

Whitby harbor

Whitby Abbey, inspiration for Bram Stoker's "Dracula"

Leaving Whitby

Coastal scene from the cliff path

Dramatic cliffs, these on the way to Robin Hood's Bay

The beach at the popular coastal town of Scarborough

Filey Brigg, the peninsula on the approach to Filey