9,0 miles
Explorer Map OL27, - North York Moors (Eastern Area)
A really pleasant walk for any time of the year.
The walk starts from Whitby itself (though the starting point
could be altered to Hawsker), and sets out through the busy streets
of Whitby, up the 199 steps to the Abbey.
From there the path follows the Cleveland Way along the cliff-top
path (a couple of steepish descents into denes), before heading
inland to Hawsker.
From Hawsker a farm footpath is followed to Stainsacre, from where
the journey is completed along the old railway track bed.
Before returning to Whitby there are some stupendous views to
be had from the Larpool Viaduct.
There are no navigational difficulties, - though checking field
patterns on a a 1 : 25000 map is helpful.
For a Memory Map overlay of the walk described, please select the
above link.
(Overlay made with Version 4 of Memory Map)
Some new mapping software is now available which you may want to try, - QUO mapping. You can download the software for free from the link below, complete with demonstration maps. Having installed QUO, you can import and export Memory Map overlays. Thus YOU DON'T NEED Memory Map to use any of the overlays provided on the Grey Panthers website, - just use QUO!!
Start from the long term car park in Whitby (NZ89967
10548). Fee to pay.
Head for Whitby's Swing Bridge, and after crossing this, make for
the Abbey via the 199 steps,
Past the small Abbey car park the Cleveland Way footpath along the
cliff top is signposted.
Follow this footpath all the way past the Lighthouse until you see
a caravan park a small way inland from the cliff top.
Here a footpath to Hawsker is signposted.
Follow the footpath into Hawsker. Near the caravan park, the footpath
runs along the caravan park's access road, - watch for traffic.
When this road meets the B1447, turn right. A footpath to Hawsker
runs beside the road.
In Hawsker, continue until you come to the A171, - the main Whitby-Scarborough
road. You need to cross this road, and great care is needed as it
is a VERY busy road.
Once over the A171, now in Low Hawsker, follow the street towards
Hawsker Hall Farm.
Just before the farm, stop to have a look at the Hawsker Cross.
A footpath to Stainsacre is signposted at the farm, and is reasonably
straightforward to follow.
In Stainsacre, head for the old railway footpath, and follow this
to the Larpool Viaduct.
Once over the viaduct, the Esk Valley footpath into Whitby is waymarked
on your right.