The Cleveland Way: Britain's Best Hike?
For many of us, 2020 was the year we started walking more. With lockdowns and restrictions on indoor activities imposed on us, time outside in nature was a soothing balm. According to UK government statistics, 94% of those who started walking more habitually think they will continue this in the long term. It follows that more and more people are enjoying hiking on their holidays, with interest in multi-day hikes and the proximity of accommodation to trails on the up. Slow travel doesn’t get any more rewarding than lacing up your walking shoes and taking yourself from A to B amongst beautiful scenery. Having worked on the PR for some brilliant walking holiday companies, as well as loving a staycation, we are big fans of the hiking holiday.
Scout founder Emma recently completed the 53 mile coastal section of the Cleveland Way in Yorkshire, an epic national trail skirting the eastern coast. Whilst the first section of the trail crosses wild moorland from Helmsley, the coastal section starts at Saltburn-on-Sea, heading south through some of the UK’s most beautiful and diverse coastal landscapes. The trail passes across a wide range of different terrain - cliffs, woodland, beaches, meadows and moorland, with incredible view after incredible view. It’s certainly a contender for Britain’s best hike, and although the full 108 mile trail is long, and steep in parts, it can be broken down into really manageable sections for an active holiday that’s still relaxing, not gruelling! We can’t wait to complete the in-land section next.
Route: We hiked in bite-sized sections over five days to ensure a leisurely place and plenty of time for summer swimming and ice cream stops. Day 1: Saltburn-on-Sea to Staithes (8.8 miles); Day 2: Staithes to Whitby (13.5 miles); Day 3: Whitby to Robin Hood’s Bay (8.6 miles); Day 4: Robin Hood’s Bay to Scarborough (13.6 miles); Day 5: Scarborough to Filey Brigg (9 miles). We packed ultra-light so carried our bags ourselves, but for those for whom packing light is not a reality there are handy local services offering to transport your luggage for you each day. You can find more details here.
Where to stay: There are plenty of B&Bs and rentals along the route but make sure you book in advance in the summer months. A highlight was the new Bike and Boot Hotel in Scarborough - super affordable, fun design, comfortable rooms and nice extras make this a welcome addition to the otherwise old-school offering at this traditional seaside resort.
Getting there: From London, train to Saltburn-on-Sea via Darlington (approx 3 hours 45 mins), and back to London, train from Filey via Doncaster (approx 4 hours).
It’s a beauty - see for yourself!
