Cleveland Way National Trail, Day 4

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Boulby Potash Mine to Saltburn

Distance: About 9 Miles.

Time Taken: 4 hours.

Weather: Dry and Cold but Very Windy.

The Walk

This morning I caught the bus from Whitby bus station having purchased a return ticket for Saltburn where I'd be ending my walk later in the day.

Bus route

Using the Bus to Get to and from The Trail Each Day is so Easy from Whitby.

The 9am bus dropped me back to today's Cleveland Way starting point for me at Boulby Potash Mine - a mile or so North of Staithes; and I was ready for the off!

Boulby Cliffs

The View from Boulby Seacliffs. Over 600' high!

Today's weather was extremly windy; with a cold Northerly gale whipping up the sea smashing into the cliffs hundreds of feet below the clifftop path.  

My goodness, it made for a bracing hike so high above the water!

But the path makes the walk another easy and generally gentle stroll with just a couple of steep sections at Boulby Cliffs and into and out of the village of Skinningrove.

It's worth noting that the seacliffs at Boulby are over 650-feet high and are the tallest on the East Coast.

It's also worth making the detour up the beck at Skinningrove and paying a visit to the little village museum to learn all about the history of iron mining in the area.

There's also some interesting art works scattered throughout this little seaside community.

Banksie Skinningrove

Banksie Does Skinningrove?

Leaving Skinningrove, the path climbs it's way up to Huntcliff and then the generally downhill walk all the way into the seaside town of Saltburn-by-the-sea is a breeze.

This section rewards with great views towards the North; over Saltburn with Teeside industry and the windmills off the coast at Redcar.

Cliff Saltburn

Towering Huntcliff with the View Towards the River Tees.

But take care! Two young men have just recently fallen from these cliffs and been killed. I was saddended to see the piles of memorabillia and drying flowers which mark their deaths.

Saltburn is a town that's dear to my heart for two reasons: firstly, I was born there 53 years ago; and secondly, I dated the first love of my life there when I was a teenager!

Saltburn stormy weather

The Pathway Towards Saltburn and its famous Pier.

I arrived in Saltburn in plenty of time; so enjoyed a late fish 'n' chip lunch down by the Pier before catching the 340pm bus back to Whitby.

All-in-all, another smashing day!

Saltburn Cliff Lift - RJB Photographic

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