Whitby and Sandsend Coast

The route

Start in Whitby and follow the Cleveland Way north along the cliffs to Sandsend, returning on a quieter inland line through the fields and tracks above the coast to close a 16.1km loop. The coastal half is the highlight, a high clifftop path with the North Sea below and long views along the shore; the inland return gives shelter and a change of rhythm. It is a varied coastal outing rather than a hard hill day, with the drama concentrated on the sea cliffs.

The coast

The stretch from Whitby to Sandsend is one of the finest short pieces of the Cleveland Way, running high above the beach with the ruined Whitby Abbey on its headland behind and the old alum-working cliffs ahead. Whitby itself, with its harbour, jet-black rooftops and Dracula associations, anchors the loop, while Sandsend sits where the beck meets the sea below the wooded valley. When the tide is out the beach offers an alternative line, but the clifftop path is the constant, exposed to the wind and the weather off the sea.

Why it works

This is a route for a scenic coastal day. The coast path is mostly good underfoot but runs close to unfenced cliff edges, so keep well back, especially in wind, and note that this is coastal ground where the Coastguard, not Mountain Rescue, is the emergency service. The clifftop can be muddy after rain, and the beach line is cut off by the tide, so check tide times before dropping down. Navigation is straightforward on the signed coast path with more care on the inland return. Whitby has every cafe, pub and chip shop you could want, and a station, making it an easy and characterful base. Come on a clear day and the run out along the cliffs with the abbey behind you is one of the best short coastal outings in the north.