This is another section of the Cleveland Way, along the Yorkshire Coast which I’ve been enjoying walking for several years. Here’s a link to some other walks in this area.
First of all, I made the mistake of not checking the tides! I’ve always ended up in Runswick Bay early in the afternoon and the tide is out, revealing a beautiful beach.
It’s wasn’t like that on this particular morning. The tide was very high, covering the beach and lapping at the rocks placed to prevent erosion. I did meet people who had scrambled over the rocks but I didn’t think it safe.
I managed to find a path running parallel to the sea with lots of twists and turns and dead-end, finally arriving at the south end of the beach. It was muddy and slippy and I managed to scrape my scalp on a low-hanging branch. Nothing serious…
It was a bit grim and grey but I loved the wildness of it all:
Beach stones, for those of you that like such things:
Then there’s a fairly hefty climb up from the beach to get on to the Cleveland Way (heading south). There’s a stream running alongside it which makes walking a little slippery:
I stopped a few times to admire the shale deposits…
It’s worth it for the view from the top:
Despite it being rather grey and grim, there was still something bright and beautiful to be found:
Then it’s southwards on the clifftops:
A bit of blue sky starts to brighten everything up:
Cows, cows and yet more cows…
Mad cow?
Some beautiful views looking back:
And forwards:
Harvest time…
Looking back once more:
Getting closer to Sandsend. This is the railway tunnel which ran north via the Whitby, Redcar and Middlesbrough Union Railway.
Then it’s south, follwoing the cliffs and the old rail route down to Sandsend itself. At this point, it’s busy with people – some more friendly than others!
Not much left of the Sandsend railway viaduct! There’s no access to the former railway station which seems to be a private residence.
Here it is in it’s full glory. Demolished in 1960.
I caught the X4 bus back to Runswick Bay and then a walk down the hill to the car. I always love that view!
