Guided Walking at Whitby

    Easier Walks    Medium Walks        Harder Walks    

Easier Walks are on generally good paths with some short steep sections and steps. Medium and Harder Walks have occasional steeper and rougher sections.

• Our experienced guides offer the choice of up to three different walks each day
• Choose the option which best suits your interests and fitness; take an Easier Walk one day and switch to a Harder Walk the next
• We offer a social activity each evening

2012 - Itinerary One

7 night holidays
Days 1-7: Fri 6 April; Sat 26 May; Sat 2 June; Sat 14 July; Sat 4, 25 Aug; Mon 5 Nov

6 night holiday
Days 1-5 & 7: Sat 29 Sept

4 night holidays
Days 1-4: Fri 6 April; Sat 2 June; Sat 14 July; Sat 4, 25 Aug; Mon 5 Nov
Days 1, 4 & 7: Mon 12 March

3 night holidays
Days 2 & 4: Wed 19 Sept; Sat 29 Sept; Fri 26 Oct
Days 3 & 7: Tues 2 Oct
Days 5-7: Tues 10 April; Wed 6, 27 June; Wed 18 July; Wed 8 Aug; Fri 9 Nov

See below for Itinerary Two

Day 1: Arrival day

Meet your leaders who will tell you more about the walks. 

Day 2: Along the Esk Valley

Easier Walk: We explore Grosmont - where the North York Moors Steam Railway ends - before walking along bridleways and ancient stone trods to Sleights and Briggswath. With great views, we climb up to the magnificent Ruswarp Viaduct and back along the old railway track. 7¼ miles with 600 feet of ascent.

Medium Walk: Today we follow an old toll road to Grosmont before making our way to Aislaby with views of the moors and River Esk. Crossing the Esk via the Ruswarp Viaduct we walk back along the old railway track. 8½ miles of ascent with 600 feet of ascent.

Harder Walk: From the ancient woodlands of Arncliffe Woods to the stepping stones of Egton Bridge and the moors around Grosmont we reach the Ruswarp Viaduct. Our route back is along the railway track. 10¼ miles with 725 feet of ascent.

Day 3: Captain Cook Country

Easier Walk: From Kildale we walk the Cleveland Way to the magnificent viewpoint at Captain James Cook’s monument; then to Roseberry Topping and on to Great Ayton with the Cook museum and preserved schoolroom. 6¾ miles with 750 feet of ascent.

Medium Walk: We walk from Guisborough to Great Ayton, taking in Highcliff Nab with views to the sea and the distinctive hill, Roseberry Topping. 8½ miles with 1,225 feet of ascent.

Harder Walk: A circular walk from Great Ayton, taking in Roseberry Topping and Captain Cook’s monument. 10 miles with 1,450 feet of ascent.

Day 4: Cleveland Way and Ravenscar Coast

Easier Walk: From Beast Cliff the Cleveland Way leads us to Ravenscar. Following the sweep of the coastline either along the seashore or along the cliff-top we reach the old fishing village of Robin Hood’s Bay. 6¾ miles with 600 feet of ascent.

Medium Walk: From Hayburn Wyke we walk through a nature reserve to Beast Cliff and Ravenscar, and on to Robin Hood’s Bay via seashore or cliff-top paths. 8¼ miles with 1,025 feet of ascent.

Harder Walk: From Cloughton to Robin Hood’s Bay via the coastal path, Hayburn Wyke and Ravenscar. 10¼ miles and 1,150 feet of ascent.

Day 5:

For 3 night holidays arriving today, this is your chance to meet your leaders.

If you have booked a 7 night holiday, today is a free day with no guided walks organised. This is a great opportunity to explore the North York Moors independently - see the Local Area tab for places that you may enjoy visiting.

Day 6: Moorland walks from Saltersgate to Pickering

Easier Walk: We walk along the moor from Saltersgate to Levisham and Newtondale, then take a ride on the North York Moors steam train to the market town of Pickering.  4½ miles with little ascent.

Medium Walk: This walk takes us deep into the Hole of Horcum and on to Levisham and Farwath before following field tracks to Pickering. 9 miles with 600 feet of ascent.

Harder Walk: From Saltersgate we follow the Old Wife’s Way past Blakey Topping en route to the sandstone outcrop of Bridestones. Then it is on to Pickering via Levisham. 12½ miles with 850 feet of ascent.

Day 7: Along the smuggler’s coast to Staithes

Easier Walk: We explore the charming old fishing village of Staithes after walking from Goldsborough via Kettleness and Runswick Bay. 6 miles with 500 feet of ascent.

Medium Walk: From the lovely beach at Sandsend we walk to Staithes via Kettleness and the pretty old fishing village of Runswick Bay. 8½ miles with 750 feet of ascent.

Harder Walk: Today we follow the old railway track from Whitby to walk the coast path or along the beach to the alum-mining village of Sandsend, and then on to Staithes. 12½ miles with 800 feet of ascent.    

2012 - Itinerary Two

7 night holidays
Days 1-7: Fri 4 May; Sat 19 May; Sat 9, 16, 30 June; Sat 7, 28 July; Sat 11 Aug; Sat 1, 8, 22 Sept

4 night holidays
Days 1-4: Sat 9, 16, 30 June; Sat 7, 28 July; Sat 11 Aug; Sat 1, 8 Sept
Days 2, 4 & 6: Mon 26 March; Mon 23 April; Mon 15, 29 Oct

3 night holidays
Days 5-7: Wed 13, 20 June; Wed 4, 11 July; Wed 15 Aug; Wed 5, 12 Sept 

Day 1: Arrival day

Meet your leaders who will tell you more about the walks. 

Day 2: The Ravenscar Coast

Easier Walk: We follow part of the Cleveland Way from Robin Hood’s Bay before heading inland to Hawkser and then along the old Scarborough-to-Whitby railway line. 6½ miles with 500 feet of ascent.

Medium Walk: This walk also starts from Robin Hood’s Bay but follows the coastline throughout with possible sightings of cormorants at Saltwick Bay on our route back to Whitby. 8¾ miles with 650 feet of ascent.

Harder Walk: Walking from Ravenscar we head to the coast via Stoupe Beck and Boggle Hole, then to Robin Hood’s Bay, Saltwick Bay and back to Whitby. 11 miles with 1,025 feet of ascent.

Day 3: Deep into the North York Moors

Easier Walk: Leaving Rosedale Abbey - the 19^th century centre for ironstone mining - we follow the valley to Lastingham and Spaunton before following field paths to Hutton-le-Hole. 6½ miles with 625 feet of ascent.

Medium Walk: Starting from high up on Blakey Ridge we descend into the valley of Farndale to the River Dove before heading to Hutton-le-Hole. 8½ miles with 400 feet of ascent.

Harder Walk: This walk contours around the head of Rosedale and along the track-bed of the old mineral railway to Rosedale Abbey. After a climb to Bank Top and Ana Cross we continue on the grouse moors to Lastingham and Hutton-le Hole. 13¼ miles with 950 feet of ascent.

Day 4: Heartbeat country around Goathland

Easier Walk: Today we take a circular route from Goathland (Adensfield in television’s Heartbeat and Hogsmeade in Harry Potter), visiting the waterfall of Mallyan Spout en route to Grosmont as we return along the old railway trackbed. 7½ miles with 700 feet of ascent.

Medium Walk: A circular walk from Goathland, we cross the River Esk at Egton Bridge, and on to Grosmont. 9½ miles with 925 feet of ascent.  

Harder Walk: Starting from Saltersgate, next to the huge natural amphitheatre of the Hole of Horcum, we drop into the glacial valley of Newtondale. Forest tracks, stepping stones and a stretch along a Roman Road bring us to Mallyan Spout waterfall and Goathland. 11¼ miles with1,250 feet of ascent.

Day 5:

For 3 night holidays arriving today, this is your chance to meet your leaders.

If you have booked a 7 night holiday, today is a free day with no guided walks organised. This is a great opportunity to explore the North York Moors independently - see the Local Area tab for places that you may enjoy visiting.

Day 6: Smuggler’s coast along the Cleveland Way

Easier Walk: From the high cliff at Boulby with its spectacular views, we follow the coast to Staithes and on to the pretty village of Runswick Bay. 5¾ miles with 425 feet of ascent.

Medium Walk: We start at Skinningrove, once a focal point for alum and ironstone mining, before heading to Boulby Cliff, Staithes and Runswick Bay. 8 miles with 925 feet of ascent.

Harder Walk: Walking from the Victorian seaside resort of Saltburn, also home to a smuggling heritage centre, we head for Skinningove and follow the route of the medium group to Runswick Bay. 11¼ miles with 1,250 feet of ascent.

Day 7: Dales of the Esk Way

Easier Walk: From Commondale village we head to the market town of Castleton and on to Danby Lodge with its National Park Centre. 5¼ miles with 475 feet of ascent.

Medium Walk: We start our walk on the bleak Danby Low Moor, heading for the warm greens of Eskdale and pretty village of Danby. We then head to Castleton and finish at Danby Lodge. 8 miles with 600 feet of ascent.

Harder Walk: Starting from Castleton we contour around Westerdale Moor to Westerdale village, where an ascent of Castleton Rigg takes us to Danby Dale, Danby Rigg and Little Fryup Dale before reaching Danby Lodge. 9¼ miles with 1,450 feet of ascent.    

Local transport

On walking days you’ll be transported to locations around the North York Moors to start your walks. The cost of all transport to and from the walks is included in the price of your holiday.

Our guests

The atmosphere is relaxed and friendly. There is normally a good mix of ages, of new guests and 'regulars' from Britain and overseas, and of people travelling alone, with a partner or with friends.

In the evenings

Your leaders will inform you about the choice of walks for the next day and answer any questions you may have. After a sociable evening meal you could join in an organised activity such as a quiz or a talk about the local area, relax in the bar or use the Country House facilities.