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Guidance

Cleveland Way: National Trail

Published 24 June 2026

Applies to England

© Crown copyright 2026

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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/visit-a-national-trail-in-england/cleveland-way-national-trail

The Cleveland Way is a 109-mile (175km) National Trail through the moorland and coastline of the North York Moors.

Starting from the market town of Helmsley, the Cleveland Way heads across the moorland of the North York Moors National Park, before reaching the coast at Saltburn-by-the-Sea.

The section of the Cleveland Way between Clay Bank and Kildale is open to mountain bikers and horse riders.

About the trail

The trail goes between:

  • Helmsley, North Yorkshire
  • Filey Brigg, North Yorkshire

You can choose to walk the entire trail, a specific section or two, or find local circular walks that follow some of the trail.

When to visit

The trail is open all year.

Signposts on the trail

All National Trails are signed with an acorn symbol or the trail name. You’ll see these along the trail, for example on gates and signposts.

Walking the whole trail

  • Length: 109 miles (175km)
  • Time to complete: around 9 days

You can walk the trail in either direction. Signposts show the route in both directions so you can choose.

Most people walk the route from Helmsley to Filey in a clockwise direction. Most guidebooks are written in this direction, and you may have the wind on your back for more of the time.

Accessibility of the trail

The Cleveland Way can be challenging in places, especially the coastal sections.

The trail has no stiles, and there are some sections with no steps.

You can find out about:

You can also follow the Cleveland Way and see what the trail looks like on Google Street View.

What you can experience on the trail

There are many things you can experience on the Cleveland Way, including:

  • wildlife – such as birdwatching at Filey Brigg and seal watching at Ravenscar
  • historic and heritage sites – such as Helmsley Castle, Rievaulx Abbey, the White Horse of Kilburn, Captain Cook’s monument and Whitby Abbey
  • nature – such as North York Moors and Roseberry Topping Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs), and the North Yorkshire and Cleveland Heritage Coast
  • local culture, food and entertainment

On the trail you can also visit cities, towns and small villages, including:

  • Staithes  
  • Osmotherley 
  • Saltburn 
  • Whitby

Sections of the trail

You can break the trail into sections that you can walk in a day, or that give you time to visit specific things on or near the trail.    

There’s an example below, but you can find more information online and in guidebooks to help plan your route.

Helmsley to Sutton Bank – 10 miles (16km)

The trail starts in Helmsley. It goes west through the woods and ponds at Nettledale, then climbs gradually to the village of Cold Kirby. The final part of this section goes along Sutton Bank escarpment.

Sutton Bank to Osmotherley – 11.5 miles (18.5km)

At the start of this section there are facilities at Sutton Bank National Park Centre. This section goes along the Hambleton Hills of the North York Moors National Park. The trail goes north to the Hambleton Drove Road.

Osmotherley to Clay Bank – 11 miles (18km)

This section of the trail is in the Cleveland Hills and crosses over 5 moors - Scarth Wood Moor, Live Moor, Cringle Moor, Cold Moor and Hasty Bank.

Clay Bank to Kildale – 9.3 miles (15km)

This section of the Cleveland Way between Clay Bank and Kildale is open to mountain bikers and horse riders.

The trail goes up onto Urra Moor - the highest point in the North York Moors at 454 metres (1,489 feet). The remotest point of the Cleveland Way is at Blowarth crossing after Urra Moor. The trail goes north again to the small village of Kildale, where there is accommodation, toilets at the train station and rail connections to Whitby and Middlesbrough.

Kildale to Saltburn–- 14.75 miles (24km)

The trail goes north out of Kildale and crosses the Esk Valley rail line. On Easby Moor you can see Captain Cook’s Monument and Roseberry Topping. The trail goes east into Guisborough Woods, the longest stretch of forestry on the Cleveland Way. There are some options for food before the final section through Skelton and the Saltburn Woods, before the trail reaches the sea at Saltburn.

Saltburn to Sandsend – 17.5 miles (28km)

The trail goes south out of Saltburn and climbs up to Boulby Cliff. This is the highest cliff on the eastern coast of England at 203 metres (666 feet).

The trail goes down to Staithes village, where there are options for food, drink and accommodation. The trail continues to Runswick Bay and Sandsend where there are many options for food, drink and accommodation.

Sandsend to Robin Hood’s Bay – 10 miles (16.3km)

The trail soon goes through Whitby town, where there are many options for food, drink and accommodation and you can see the ruins of Whitby Abbey. The trail goes along the cliff top through to Robin Hoods Bay, where there are places for food, drink and accommodation. Robin Hood’s Way is also the end of the Coast to Coast Path National Trail.

Robin Hoods Bay to Scarborough – 12 miles (19.3km)

There are regular public transport options on this section of the trail.

The trail climbs up gradually to Ravenscar with occasional sudden drops to sea level at Boggle Hole and Stoupe Beck. There are options for food, drink and accommodation in Ravenscar.

The trail goes south into the wooded bay of Hayburn Wyke and goes on to Scarborough seaside resort.

Scarborough to Filey – 10.5 miles (16.7km)

There are regular public transport options between the towns on this section of the trail.

The trail goes out of Scarborough and above Cayton Bay to Filey Brigg. This point marks the end of both the Cleveland Way and the Yorkshire Wolds Way National Trail.

Maps for the trail

You can find:

  • a map on the National Trails website - where you can also download GPX data
  • other maps and guidebooks online and in print
  • circular and linear walks online and from the local council

The Ordnance Survey (OS) Explorer maps that cover the trail are:

  • 301 Scarborough, Bridlington and Flamborough Head
  • OL26 North York Moors Western area
  • OL27 North York Moors Eastern area

Diversions or closures on the trail

If there are any diversions or closures of sections of the trail, these will be clearly signposted. You should always follow the signposts on the trail.

Prepare for your visit

Read guidance on how to prepare for your visit for information on: 

  • checking the route – including for diversions or closures 
  • planning your trip 
  • what to prepare before you set off 
  • what to do on the trail

Contact

Use the relevant National Trails online form to:

  • report a problem
  • ask a question about accessibility on the trail
  • find out about volunteering opportunities

Contact the local council to report a problem on a public right of way, for example obstructions, poor maintenance or a misleading sign.

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