Route: Sandsend to Runswick Bay
Area: North Yorkshire
Date of walk: 29th October 2017
Walkers: Andrew and Gilly
Distance: 6.1 miles
Ascent: 1,100 feet
Weather: Mixed sun and rain, very windy
With the exception of one or two small gaps we’ve walked all of the North Yorkshire coastline on previous occasions, and today gave us the chance to fit one of the last remaining pieces in the jigsaw. We parked in the small seaside village of Sandsend and walked along the promenade to the public car park at the north end of the village. We passed through the car park to join the Cleveland Way, climbing up some steps to start the cliff top section of the walk
The first part of the path took us along a cinder track, the site of the old railway line. We arrived at the entrance to a railway tunnel which is no longer maintained and at this point it’s necessary to part company with the old track, and to climb wooden steps uphill to join the coastal path. The path follows the edge of the eroding cliffs with wonderful views out to sea
The weather couldn’t make up its mind today – one minute there was sun and blue skies and seconds later it was pouring with rain. As we approached Runswick Bay we descended to the beach, where the weather deteriorated further and with gale force winds driving the rain straight at the camera, photo opportunities were limited. In view of this, and the fact that the No. 4 bus back to Sandsend was due to arrive in 10 minutes, we decided not to explore the village and made the steep climb out of it to the bus stop. Needless to say as soon as we sat down in the bus, the sun came out and the weather was glorious during the short ride back to Sandsend
It was a superb walk, with cliff top scenery to equal anything we’ve experienced on the other sections of the Cleveland Way
For other walks here, visit my Find Walks page and enter the name in the ‘Search site’ box
Click on the icon below for the route map (subscribers to OS Maps can view detailed maps of the route, visualise it in aerial 3D, and download the GPX file. Non-subscribers will see a base map)
Scroll down – or click on any photo to enlarge it and you can then view as a slideshow
Sandsend Beach at the start of today's walk
Looking ahead to Sandsend Ness
We head inland briefly to cross the bridge over East Row Beck
Looking back along the beach, with Whitby Abbey in the distance...
At the far end of a public car park, we leave Sandsend and climb this staircase up the cliff
We join the track bed of the disused railway
Bench with a view
Easy walking along the cinder track...
Views back along the coast as we gain height...
Looking along the eroding coastline
Having left the old railway track behind, we follow the cliff top path towards Kettleness
Looking out to sea
Sandsend Ness
We follow the path above Kettle Ness...
Eroded shale cliffs near Kettleness
Our destination, Runswick Bay, comes into view
Mixed weather over the North Sea...
Runswick Bay
Another spell of rain approaching
Runswick Sands and Runswick Bay
The path descends to the beach...
We arrive on Runswick Sands - it's raining heavily at this point
Looking back along the beach
Runswick Bay, and from here we make the stiff climb to the upper part of the village just in time to catch the No. 4 bus back to Sandsend
Back in Sandsend, crab sandwiches at the excellent Sandside Cafe
View from the cafe looking towards Whitby Abbey at the end of a wonderful walk
