Self-Guided Walk

Robin Hood's Bay to Whitby

A firm favourite with all walkers, this 8 mile section of the Cleveland Way is, justifiably, very popular. Carole Jones, route researcher

Key Information Distance: 8 miles (12.8km) Time: allow 4 hours plus stops Route Grading: Start: Robin Hood’s Bay. Finish: Larpool Hall. Catch the X93 Scarborough bus to Thorpe Lane, Robin Hood’s Bay Note: This section of the Cleveland Way has many ascents and descents, some are steep and may be slippery after rain. There are also a number of stiles. The cliffs are subject to erosion and diversions are sometimes necessary, but will be signed and must be followed.

Distance Directions Photographs

Km Miles

4.5

2.7

From the bus stop on Thorpe Lane walk back to Station Road and turn left. Just after the Grosvenor Hotel turn right along Mount Pleasant North and follow the Cleveland Way sign (this will be followed to Whitby Abbey). At the end of the road pass through the wooden gate onto a gravel track. At a bench the path is diverted over a stile and along side the field. Below the old coastguard lookout station bear right and rejoin the cliff top path to Oakham Beck (A)

Cleveland Way sign

Cleveland Way diverts into

field

Robin Hood's Bay to Whitby – Page 2

Distance Directions Photographs

Km Miles

10.5 6.3

Continue on the Cleveland Way passing Whitestone Cliff lighthouse and fog horn (B) and through Saltwick Bay Holiday Home, bearing left at the touring field to Whitby Abbey Plain (C)

Whitestone Cliff lighthouse

Whitby Abbey Plain

13.1

8.0

Descend 199 steps, or the donkey track at the side, and bear left at the bottom along Church Street. At the end of the pedestrian section, bear left (D) (still Church Street) by the side of the river. At the small stream turn right by Roach Builders and cross the stream by the stone bridge. Turn immediately right by the white painted house, then right just after it by No 1 Old Sail Loft. Turn left and follow the riverside walkway. Under the road bridge at the nature reserve sign, go left up the zig zag path leading to the A171. Turn left, cross road then up Larpool Lane. Continue for 100m after the pavement stops and bear left along Larpool Drive to Larpool Hall.

Top 199 Steps

Stone bridge over stream

Robin Hood's Bay to Whitby – Page 3

Local Information

Refreshments: There plenty of places in Robin Hood’s Bay and Whitby, nothing in between Facilities: There are toilets in Robin Hood’s Bay, YHA Whitby (by the abbey) and Whitby town Places of Interest:

Robin Hood's Bay - is known locally as Bay or Bay Town. By 1538 a community of 50 houses had developed. In the 1820's 130 fishermen crewed 40 cobles and five larger herring craft. Every member of the family was involved - mending nets, baiting lines, making lobster pots, barrelling fish, launching and pulling up boats. Fisherfolk wore traditional dress: women wore bonnets, dark dresses, and white pinafores with canvas aprons while working; men wore black trousers, sealskin caps, high heeled boots and blue "ganseys" (jumpers). Each village had its own distinctive pattern for "ganseys" and bonnets. In 1885 the railway extended the market for fish to the Midlands and London (and brought the first tourists). The station was at Mount Pleasant (near the coach park): here the wealthy seamen and landowners lived.

Whitby - The mouth of the River Esk provides the only natural harbour in 100 miles of coastline between the Tees and the Humber. By 1828 Whitby was the sixth largest port in Britain. By 1816 its shipyards were busy and only nine fishermen were left. After 1870 its shipyards could not build the larger ships demanded - they were too wide to pass its bridge: the bridge was widened in 1909 but it was too late to save the industry.

Jet is fossilised driftwood from Jurassic times (c.130 million years ago). From Neolithic times it was credited with magical properties and has been used for jewellery. It became fashionable after the death of Prince Albert in 1861, when Victoria would wear only black. By 1873, 1500 men and boys were employed in workshops carving and making ornaments while 200 men using pick and shovel quarried it from the cliffs. Its popularity declined and by 1921 only 40 were employed part-time. Development is now hindered by purchase tax.

Please Note: All self-guided walks and cycle rides are undertaken entirely at guests’ own risk. Route directions are supplied in good faith; however HF Holidays cannot be held responsible for any errors contained within.

Larpool Hall, Larpool Drive, Whitby YO22 4ND. T: 01947 602737 © HF Holidays Ltd, January 2015

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This product includes mapping licensed from Ordnance Survey ® with the permission of the Controller of Her Majesty's Stationery Office. © Crown Copyright 2015. All rights reserved. Licence Number PU 100040361. This map was generated and printed by TrackLogs Digital Mapping software.For more information see www.tracklogs.co.uk.

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This product includes mapping licensed from Ordnance Survey ® with the permission of the Controller of Her Majesty's Stationery Office. © Crown Copyright 2015. All rights reserved. Licence Number PU 100040361. This map was generated and printed by TrackLogs Digital Mapping software.For more information see www.tracklogs.co.uk.