- Distance 108.1 mi 174 km
- Duration 5–11 days
- Ascent 4,250 m 13,950 ft
- Descent 4,270 m 14,000 ft
- Difficulty Moderate
What is the Cleveland Way?
Moor first, then sea. The Cleveland Way walks a horseshoe of 109 miles (175 km) from Helmsley to Filey Brigg, over the heather of the North York Moors and down the Yorkshire coast. It opened in 1969, the second National Trail in England and Wales.
The moors are open and quiet, on broad drove roads and stone flags. James Herriot called the view from Sutton Bank the finest in England. The Cleveland Hills are the hard part: five moors in a row, each a climb and a drop, with the Wainstones on the last.
At Saltburn the path meets the sea and turns south along the cliffs. It climbs Boulby, the highest cliff on England's east coast, and drops again and again into fishing villages and bays. Whitby Abbey, the inspiration for Bram Stoker's Dracula, comes before Robin Hood's Bay.
Cleveland Way route map
The full Cleveland Way from Helmsley to Filey. Tap any day to open that itinerary in the planner and see overnight stops along the way. The panel below the map shows the elevation profile.
How hard is the Cleveland Way?
Anyone reasonably fit can walk it. It is challenging in places, especially on the Cleveland Hills and parts of the coast. The acorn waymarks the path, but phone signal is patchy, so carry a map or GPS mapping.
The hardest day is Osmotherley to Clay Bank Top: five moors in a row on stone flags, short in miles and long in effort. Urra Moor beyond it is high and open, and mist is the real hazard up there. On the coast the climbs are short and steep, into bays and wooded wykes and back out, and they add up.
On most plans two hill nights are a short walk off the path, at Clay Bank Huts and Newton under Roseberry. Wild camping is not a right here, so ask the landowner first.
Cleveland Way itineraries and official sections
Pick a day count and the 5–11 day splits show where you would sleep each night, or read the route as the official town-to-town sections.
When is the best time to walk the Cleveland Way?
- January, fair
- February, fair
- March, fair
- April, good
- May, best
- June, best
- July, best
- August, best
- September, best
- October, good
- November, fair
- December, fair
Best months: May, June, July, August, and September
The trail can be walked right through the year, but spring to autumn is the time to go. May, June, July, August and September are the first-timer months, and late August and early September bring the heather into flower on the moors.
Beds fill quickly in peak season, so book ahead, especially Robin Hood's Bay and Scarborough. April and October are good months to walk. In winter the coastal sections get very muddy, the days are short, and mist on the moors is more likely.
North-east England has wet days in every month, and the most from October to January. Carry waterproofs whenever you go.
Rain days each month:
- January, 13 rain days
- February, 11 rain days
- March, 10 rain days
- April, 10 rain days
- May, 10 rain days
- June, 11 rain days
- July, 11 rain days
- August, 11 rain days
- September, 10 rain days
- October, 12 rain days
- November, 13 rain days
- December, 13 rain days
Driest: March, April, May, and September — still 10 rain days.
East and North-East England averages, 1991 to 2020. The North York Moors and the Yorkshire coast sit in this district. This is the record, not a forecast.
How do I get there and back?
Helmsley has no station. Buses run there from York, Malton and Scarborough, and from Scarborough the 128 goes straight to Helmsley. Flying in, take the train from Leeds Bradford, Manchester or Newcastle to York for the bus.
Filey, at the finish, has a station, with trains and buses to Scarborough and Hull. On the way, Kildale and Great Ayton are on the line to Whitby and Middlesbrough. Times change through the year, so check National Rail and Traveline.
Frequently asked questions
The walk
How long does the Cleveland Way take?
The trail body lists 9 days, and 9 is the usual first walk. These plans run from 5 to 11 walking days. The 5- and 6-day sleep at Kildale on the path and are for very fit walkers. The 10- and 11-day slow the coast with nights in Staithes and Whitby.
Which direction should I walk?
Helmsley to Filey, clockwise, is the way most people walk, as you are likely to have the wind behind you, and most guidebooks are written that way. These plans start at Helmsley. Both directions are signed, and the planner reverses the plans if you would rather start on the coast. The trail body says the other way can help when beds are hard to book.
Getting set
Do I need to book accommodation in advance?
Yes, book well ahead, because beds fill quickly in peak season. Starting on a Monday or Tuesday can make booking easier. There is no bed at Clay Bank Top itself. Clay Bank Huts are about 1.2 miles (1.9 km) away and offer a pick-up; Great Broughton has hotels about 2.5 miles (4 km) down the road. Newton under Roseberry and Kilburn are also a short walk off the path. Many places in Scarborough and Filey ask for two nights, so book those early.
Can I get my bag transferred?
Yes, from late March to mid-October, from Helmsley to Filey. A bag a day is usually £10 to £25. In Robin Hood's Bay bags may be left at one house rather than your door, so ask your host. If you walk the other way, check the direction when you book.
This site & app
Is this the official Cleveland Way website?
No. This site helps you plan days, stays and a GPX. For trail notices, diversions and official advice, use the Cleveland Way pages on National Trails. Cleveland Way on National Trails
Do I need an account?
No. A Cleveland Way plan opens without an account. Add an email only when you want an edit link on another phone. Downloading a GPX does not need email.
Can I download a GPX of the Cleveland Way?
Yes. Open a plan and export the whole trip, or one file per day, for your phone. Each section page also has a GPX of that stretch. Coastal erosion moves the path, so follow the signs on the ground where a diversion is in place.
Plan your Cleveland Way
Choose your dates and pace, adjust overnight stops on the map, then export GPX files built around your route.
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