The Cleveland Way heads south out of Saltburn rising quickly onto the cliff top. You may be surprised to come across several art features along this stretch. The most distinctive of these metal sculptures is the ring  – a circle with ten metal objects representative of the area hanging and clanking from it in the breeze!

Beyond Skinningrove you will climb up to Boulby Cliff. This is the highest cliff on the eastern coast of England at 203 metres (666 feet). Another record is set nearby – you will see the Boulby Potash mine which is the deepest mine in Europe.

Beyond Boulby you drop down to Staithes, a most picturesque harbour village with narrow alleyways and a cluster of houses.

14.1 km / 8.8 miles

Take in the sea air as you travel on and enjoy the beach at Runswick Bay before climbing the cliffs once more. The original village of Kettleness slipped into the sea in 1829, a reminder of the ever present nature of coastal erosion along the Cleveland Way. Your journey continues through to Sandsend where there is a wealth of tea shops and pubs.

Your journey from Sandsend soon reaches Whitby, a famous sea side town which prospered through the years from whaling, shipbuilding (Captain Cooks ships were built here) and the jet trade. Today tourism is one of the main industries. Whitby is also renowned as the setting for Bram Stokers “Dracula”.

Enjoy counting the 199 steps up to St Mary’s church – everyone else does! The classic outline of the ruins of Whitby Abbey, managed by English Heritage soon comes into view.

17.3 km/10.8 miles

From Whitby follow the pleasant walk along the cliff top through to Robin Hoods Bay. Here the houses are clustered so closely together that they appear to be nesting on the cliff edge. Robin Hood’s Bay is infamous for its role in the smuggling trade between 1700 and 1850.

Wandering through its narrow, twisting cobbled streets and alleyways, you can easily imagine the sailors and fishermen, smugglers and press gangs that walked these streets hundreds of years ago. Today it is a vibrant village, with a wide range of cafes, pubs, restaurants, small shops and places to explore.

10.2km / 6.4 miles

Heading south once again is the gradual climb to Ravenscar, with the occasional sudden drops to sea level at Boggle Hole and Stoupe Beck. Approaching Ravenscar you pass through site of former Alum works, considered one of the first sites of the Worlds first chemical industry. It is worth calling in at the National Trust centre at Ravenscar to get local information and to learn about the “Town that never was”.

Heading south from Ravenscar the trail drops into the delightful wooded bsy of Hayburn Wyke. This is a fantastic spot to stop by the waterfall and admire the stone pebble beach.  Nearby the Hayburn Wyke Inn is a great source for refreshments.

Journey on and soon Scarborough Castle comes into view. Keep heading on towards this busy seaside resort. On reaching Scarborough you can choose to take the open top bus around from North Bay to the Spa at South Bay or enjoy this exhilarating walk around its promenade.

19.3km / 12 miles

This final length has some stunning cliff and coastal scenery to appreciate as you saunter through to the lovely old Victorian resort of Filey.

Passing out of Scarborough you will see the former location of the Holbeck Hall Hotel. The hotel famously slipped into the sea in front of the British media in 1994.  In fact coastal slippage is a frequent reminder here, as you head past the bungalows at Knipe Point some of which have also been lost to the sea in recent years.

The walk passes above the beautiful expanse of Cayton Bay before you enjoy the last few miles through to the stunning geographical location of Filey Brigg, a birdwatchers paradise. This point marks the finish not only of the Cleveland way but also the Yorkshire Wolds Way, another National Trail that follows the gentle rolling landscape of the Yorkshire Wolds between Hessle on the Humber and Filey.

16.7km / 10.5 miles