The Grey Panthers

Outdoor Leisure Map OL27, - North York Moors (Eastern Area)

If the weather is fine and the sun is out, you can't beat this walk.
There is a mixture of coastal scenery, Whitby town itself (always plenty to see), an ancient "trod" between Ruswarp and Sneaton, and some delightful woodland walking between Sneaton and Hawsker.
Navigation is straightforward, and there are only a couple of fairly steep ascents / descents (on the Cleveland Way footpath) to worry about.

For a Memory Map overlay of the walk described, please select the above link.
(Overlay made with Version 5 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 web site, - just use QUO!!

Start from the long-term car park in Whitby (NZ89955 10567).
Head for the Southern end of this car park, where the footpath crosses the railway line. At this point, DO NOT cross the railway line, but take the newly opened footpath that follows the River Esk to Ruswarp.
In Ruswarp, turn left at the station and cross the River Esk by the road bridge. Almost immediately, turn left and follow the minor road past the Shawn Riggs caravan park and continue until the road goes uphill.
(CARE : Traffic. The road is narrow and fairly busy and you need to pay particular attention.)
At a bend in the road at the top of the hill, a footpath is signposted on the right. Just past a house this footpath then follows a trod.
When you reach a footbridge, turn right and follow the trod uphill to the minor road. Cross the road, and on the other side take the farm track which soon continues to follow the trod. Continue along the trod to Sneaton.
In Sneaton, turn right to visit the church. Then retrace your steps and head Eastwards along the minor road.
By the gate to Bennison House Farm, take the track that leads to the woodland by Rigg Mill Beck.
Do not cross the beck, but head South to Rigg Mill.
From Rigg Mill take the minor road (Long Rigg) to The Riggs and Asp House.
Here turn left and almost immediately on your right take the footpath to Low Hawsker.
Continue to the main road. Cross the main road and walk along the B1447 until you come to the bus shelter.
Just past the bus shelter turn left along the farm track to Gnipe Howe Farm.
Take the footpath to the right of the farm buildings to the coast and the Cleveland Way footpath.
Now follow this footpath all the way back to Whitby.