Esk Valley Walks and Yorkshire Coast Walks
There's not many better ways to relax and enjoy our beautiful surroundings than by a good walk through the Esk Valley. In this post we round up a few of the most popular routes, some of which are long and can be split into several smaller walks, and some which are shorter, or make for excellent family expeditions, or picnic routes!
Whatever your walking ability, the Esk Valley, Whitby to Scarborough Railway line and the Cleveland Way offer plenty of choice for everyone. And of course, for the more adventurous, we're not far off the route of the Coast to Coast, if you really want to stretch yourselves!
Walks in the Esk Valley - Esk Valley Railway
The Esk Valley Railway website provides information on a number of walks in the area - everything from the 35 mile Esk Valley Route to a selection of 2 - 9 miles walks for families starting at the Danby Moors Centre.
Of course, the North York Moors Steam Railway provides an excellent link to the start, or from the finish of many of the Esk Valley walks - provided you can time your pace correctly! And if not, you're sure to find a cosy pub in many of the Esk Valley villages to keep you warm, watered and fed until the next train!
Here are the details: http://www.eskvalleyrailway.co.uk/walking/
The Esk Valley Walk - North York Moors National Park
If a longer walk is what you're after, then the Esk Valley Walk might be just your cup of tea. The North York Moors National Park website offers some excellent information on the route, as well as a PDF download containing information about each village, a map of the route (including Ordnance Survey extracts for each village section) and loads more information on local landmarks and wildlife to look out for.
Of course you can split this walk into as many sections as you're comfortable with, so why not take a look and pick out the section which appeals to you most to get you started?
Here's the information: http://www.northyorkmoors.org.uk/visiting/enjoy-outdoors/walking/esk-valley-walk
Whitby to Runswick Bay
Of course, it's not just the countryside which benefits from the wonderful views and picturesque scenery. Whitby's coastal location and easy access to cliff paths means there's always a cliff-top option, should that appeal more to you!
Here's the information about the Whitby to Runswick Bay cliff path walk, benefiting from wonderful coastal views and passing through a number of our picturesque seaside villages on the way:
http://where2walk.co.uk/north_york_moors_coast/coastal_exploring/from-whitby-to-runswick-bay/
Whitby Abbey and Lighthouse
This is a much shorter walk, taking in Whitby Abbey, some of the Cleveland Way cliff-top path and forming a circular route back into town. Perfect for a leisurely afternoon's stroll, starting and finishing in Whitby, so you can enjoy a meal and a cool drink when you return!
http://where2walk.co.uk/north_york_moors_coast/moors_short_walks/whitby-abbey-and-the-coast/
Robin Hood's Bay to Whitby
Get the bus down to Robin Hood's Bay, enjoy exploring the village and then make your way back along the Cleveland Way to Whitby. It'll take about 3 hours, and you'll experience some of the best coastal scenery available on this stretch of the North Yorkshire coastline.
http://where2walk.co.uk/north_york_moors_coast/one-way-walks/robin-hoods-bay-to-whitby/
And if you feel you'd find the cliff top path a little difficult, you could always use the Cinder Track which follows the same route (nearly!) and is much flatter and more easy going. It's also suitable for bikes, if you prefer getting out on two wheels!
Walking Tours
If you'd like to go on a walking tour of the area, please get in touch with Rose, who runs Whitby Walking Tours. Her local knowledge is unrivalled, and as an experienced professional storyteller she's sure to have a few tales to tell along the way!