Runswick Bay

Runswick Bay

Route: Sandsend to Runswick Bay

Area: North Yorkshire

Date of walk: 29th October 2017

Walkers: Andrew and Gilly 

Distance:  6.1 miles

Ascent: 1,100 feet

Weather: Mixed sun and rain, very windy

With the exception of one or two small gaps we’ve walked all of the North Yorkshire coastline on previous occasions, and today gave us the chance to fit one of the last remaining pieces in the jigsaw. We parked in the small seaside village of Sandsend and walked along the promenade to the public car park at the north end of the village. We passed through the car park to join the Cleveland Way, climbing up some steps to start the cliff top section of the walk

The first part of the path took us along a cinder track, the site of the old railway line. We arrived at the entrance to a railway tunnel which is no longer maintained and at this point it’s necessary to part company with the old track, and to climb wooden steps uphill to join the coastal path. The path follows the edge of the eroding cliffs with wonderful views out to sea

The weather couldn’t make up its mind today – one minute there was sun and blue skies and seconds later it was pouring with rain. As we approached Runswick Bay we descended to the beach, where the weather deteriorated further and with gale force winds driving the rain straight at the camera, photo opportunities were limited. In view of this, and the fact that the No. 4 bus back to Sandsend was due to arrive in 10 minutes, we decided not to explore the village and made the steep climb out of it to the bus stop. Needless to say as soon as we sat down in the bus, the sun came out and the weather was glorious during the short ride back to Sandsend

It was a superb walk, with cliff top scenery to equal anything we’ve experienced on the other sections of the Cleveland Way 

For other walks here, visit my Find Walks page and enter the name in the ‘Search site’ box

Click on the icon below for the route map (subscribers to OS Maps can view detailed maps of the route, visualise it in aerial 3D, and download the GPX file. Non-subscribers will see a base map)

Scroll down – or click on any photo to enlarge it and you can then view as a slideshow

Previous walk: « | Next walk: »