The Cleveland Way is a 110 mile National Trail between Helmsley and Filey around the North York Moors National Park including the North Yorkshire and Cleveland Heritage Coast.

FAQs

Fingerpost © Natural England/ Mike Kipling
  • How long will it take me to walk the full route?
    The official guidebook recommends a nine day route. You make want to take a little longer if you want to see more of the sites along the way.
  • Which direction should I walk in?
    Most people walk the route from Helmsley through to Filey in a clockwise direction. This way you are likely to have the wind on your back for more of the time and most of the guidebooks are written this way. But there is no right or wrong way – plenty of people enjoy walking it in the other direction.
  • Can I take a dog on the Cleveland Way?
    Yes you can. You will need to keep it under close control and we would recommend a lead on lengths such as the moorland stretches where there can be nesting birds. There are still some stiles on the route and your dog will need to be able to cross them.
  • What gear will I need to take?
    Conditions can vary along the Cleveland Way, so you will need to be fully equipped with waterproofs, good boots and emergency supplies. You should carry and need to be able to use a map.
  • Can I cycle or Horse Ride on the Cleveland Way?
    Some lengths of the Cleveland Way are bridleways or minor roads and so are suitable for cycling and horseriding. However you cannot cycle or ride the full route, because most of it is footpath. Consult the Explorer maps OL26 and OL27 to plan the lengths you can enjoy riding on.
  • I’m struggling to find accommodation, can you help?
    Accommodation can be fully booked on the Cleveland Way during the peak season. We always recommend that you book it well in advance. If you are struggling however you could consider offsetting your days – so that you start on a Monday or Tuesday. Also you could consider walking it in the less common direction – from Filey to Helmsley.
  • Can I camp along the full length of the route?
    If you consult the accommodation pages of this website – or order our accommodation guide, you should be able to plan a route that allows you to camp at official camp sites every evening.
  • When is the best time to walk the Cleveland Way?
    The Cleveland Way can be walked right through the year, so there is not really a best time. If you want to see the moorland heather in bloom, then this take place in late August and September.
  • Can I get a certificate for walking the route?
    We are introducing a passport scheme for the Cleveland Way. Get your passport stamped at locations around the way and send in your passport for your completion certificate. You can order your passport on the Order leaflets section of this site.
  • What is the fastest completion time for the Cleveland Way?
    The fastest official completion time is 21 hours and 3 minutes, set by Neil Ridsdale on 25th September 2010 as part of the Hardmoors 110 Ultrarun.  The first official fastest time was 24 hours and 19 minutes, set by Martin Dietrich on Saturday 27th September 2008 as part of the first Hardmoors 110 Ultrarun.