Cleveland Way National Trail, Day 5

Saltburn to Kildale Station

Distance: About 13 Miles.

Time Taken: 5 hours.

Weather: Cloudy with Wintery Showers & Hail

A Dusting of April Snow on the North York Moors near Kildale.

The Walk

I  was back on the bus at Whitby for the early ride to get me to Saltburn.  From there I planned to pick up the Cleveland Way National Trail for the hike inland towards the North York Moors.

My plan was then to walk the trail as far as Kildale Station by 245pm; where I'd be able to catch the Esk Valley Train for the run home to Whitby in the afternoon.

With that timeframe in mind, I set off from Saltburn around 945am for a five hour hike through the woods to Skelton, and onwards to Skelton Green, Slapewath and the climb up the escarpment of the North York Moors through Guisborough woods.

Beautiful Cherry Blossom in Bloom in Saltburn Woods.

Because this section of the trail starts at sea-level in Saltburn; it is a steady climb throughout the day with a few steep sections thrown in for good measure before reaching Kildale.

The first half of the hike goes through the rolling farming land and small villages which all grew up during the Victorian-era iron mining boom that transformed this area.

Once you cross the A171 road at Fancy Bank you leave the flatter coastal land behind; and begin the hike up the steep escarpment on the very edge of the North York Moors National Park.

It's steep going for an hour or so with a steady slog up hill; but with rewarding views across the countryside of Cleveland and over to Roseberry Topping and Captain Cooks Monument.

It's Always Nice to Find a Nice Place to Sit and Admire the View!

When you reach Huntcliff above Guisborough, you finally break away from the lowland fields and woods of  England and enter the Moors for proper.

The countryside changes and becomes much harsher and bleaker in aspect.

Within minutes of getting out onto the Moors I'd heard the familiar and haunting sounds of the Curlew calling and the Red Grouse taking flight alongside the path.

It felt smashing to be walking on my own Country in the land of my forefathers!

And there was a touch of drama when a ferosious hail storm lasting 10-minutes hit me in a very exposed section of the Moorland path.

Hail Storm on the North York Moors.

The route across the Moors is well formed and with excellent way markers so the going is easy.  The folks who administer the Cleveland Way have done an excellent job!

I arrived in Kildale with enough time to grab a hot cup of coffee from the little Cafe in the village; and ten minutes later I was sitting on the train bound for Whitby.

NOTE: if you decide to follow this route, make sure to buy a cheaper return ticket on the train so you can get back to Kildale to start the next stage of the walk towards Osmotherly.

Moorland Curlew: Rare Elsewhere But Common on the North Yorkshire Moors.