- On trail 10.1 mi 16.2 km
- Walking time 4–5 h
- Ascent 340 m 1,100 ft
- Descent 300 m 1,000 ft
- Difficulty Moderate
Whitby and its abbey, then the cliffs to a smugglers' village.
Section 7: Sandsend to Robin Hood's Bay map
Cross-check: National Trails route description . Opened 29 October 2026. The distance at the top of this page is measured between these ends. The route page's miles stay in the answers below.
The walk
Whitby is the heart of this section. The path comes in from Sandsend through the town and climbs the 199 steps to St Mary's church and the abbey that inspired Bram Stoker's Dracula. After the town it is a pleasant walk along the cliff top. Robin Hood's Bay waits at the end, its houses nesting on the cliff edge, a smuggling village from 1700 to 1850.
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Start of section
Sandsend
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Whitby
Whitby Abbey and the 199 steps
The abbey ruins on the east cliff inspired Bram Stoker's Dracula. St Mary's church beside them is reached by 199 steps from the old town.
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The night
Robin Hood's Bay
A smuggling village from 1700 to 1850, its houses packed onto the cliff above the beach. Most plans sleep here.
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End of section
Robin Hood's Bay
Section 7: Sandsend to Robin Hood's Bay overview
The ground
- Cliff top
- Town
- Steps
Short and steady, with a town in the middle and an easy cliff top after it. A town in the middle and an easy cliff top after it. The next section, to Scarborough, drops to sea level twice.
Stops
Refreshments
- Sandsend
- Whitby
- Robin Hood's Bay
Toilets
- Robin Hood's Bay
Before you go
Opposite direction
Robin Hood's Bay to Sandsend
From Robin Hood's Bay the cliff top runs easily north toward the abbey. Down the 199 steps and through Whitby, the path leads on to Sandsend.
End of section
Sandsend
Sandsend to Robin Hood's Bay FAQ
How long is Sandsend to Robin Hood's Bay?
The route page lists 10 miles (16.3 km). The distance at the top of this page is measured between these ends.
Should I stop in Whitby?
Our 10- and 11-day plans sleep in Whitby, which makes the walk to Robin Hood's Bay the next morning barely half a day. The other plans stop there for lunch and shopping.
Can I download a GPX for Sandsend to Robin Hood's Bay?
Yes. Use the GPX button at the top of this page. It is this section's line, for Garmin, Komoot, or your phone. Open the planner if you want a file built around your overnight stops.
Walk this as a day
Inside Day 7 of the 9-day, from Runswick Bay. Open the planner on that preset, then export a full-trip or per-day GPX.
Open in planner Read the 9-day itinerary
Full-trip and per-day GPX files. Free, no account.
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