It’s only 1.5 hours drive from Hull but feels like a million miles away. I love living so close to the North York Moors National Park and having this coastline on our doorstep.
On the first day we pottered around Robin Hoods Bay, then walked to Boggle Hole and a bit further towards Ravenscar. You can walk along the beach from Robin Hood’s Bay heading south and walk right through the stream into Boggle Hole (take your wellies!). There is lots to see on the way, with fossils to look for and rock pools to investigate. At Boggle Hole there is a YHA with a great cafe serving food and drinks.
After a pit stop at the cafe we carried on south heading towards Ravenscar, following the Cleveland Way path. We love visiting Ravenscar as its the best place to see seals, however this time we didn’t make it all the way due to a very muddy and boggy path!
There are some great places to eat in Robin Hoods Bay; the Bay Hotel was very child and dog friendly and did good pub food. For more of a special occasion Brambles Bistro was fantastic. The fish and chip shop is also an excellent one!
On the second day we did an epic walk! We followed the Cleveland Way to Whitby and, after a quick stop at the Whitby Abbey Brewery and Whitby Papas, we walked back to Robin Hoods Bay on the Cinder Track. It’s about 10km each way. My lovely mum had our kids while we did the full 21km round trip, but you could do this walk one way with kids and get the bus back. Both paths leave from the same point at the top of Robin Hoods Bay, very well signposted.
The Cleveland way is a challenging path but you are right on the cliff edge with amazing views, there are steep up and down sections and right now an awful lot of mud and bogs to get through. It’s not great for children if they aren’t used to walking, and it is definitely best tackled in good weather. There is nowhere to stop on the way so take plenty of water and snacks. The path ends at Whitby Abbey, if you then want to walk down the 99 steps and into Whitby.
The Cinder track is easier and is a good, pretty flat track ideal for waking or bikes, much more child friendly, but not as pretty. It starts at the top end of Whitby, opposite the bottom corner entrance to Pannett Park, and is an old railway line that goes all the way to Scarborough. The first half back to Robin Hoods Bay is all in woodlands following the river. It then crosses over the main road and goes back over the moorland and back to some incredible sea views, getting close to the Cleveland Way again. It ends back at the top of Robin Hoods Bay.
I’ve wanted to do this walk for years and I’m so glad to have finally done it! The views were spectacular; we brought home some lovely memories and some very muddy boots!
There is a really helpful Walks section on the North York Moors website.
Here are some walks which we think sound brilliant for families this winter.
This is a fantastic walk, along a section of a disused railway line, in the company of the tumbling Murk Esk.
👶 Buggy friendly: Yes
🐶 Dog-Friendly: Yes
🚶Circular: No
⏰ Distance/time: 3 miles
ℹ️ More information here
Enjoy a walk through the trees on a 2-mile circular route that passes an idyllic woodland tea garden and the 30-foot Falling Foss waterfall, before returning alongside babbling May Beck.
👶 Buggy friendly: No
🐶 Dog-Friendly: Yes
🚶Circular: Yes
⏰ Distance/time: 3 miles
ℹ️ More information here
On this 2.5 mile circular walk, you can enjoy the best of the local natural and cultural heritage. This walk is one of five new routes developed as part of the Ryevitalise Landscape Partnership Scheme, encouraging people to head out and explore the majestic River Rye.
👶 Buggy friendly: No
🐶 Dog-Friendly: Yes
🚶Circular: Yes
⏰ Distance/time: 2 1/2 miles
ℹ️ More information here
It is a pleasant short walk along the cliff top with wide views over Runswick Bay that is also suitable for pushchairs.
👶 Buggy friendly: Yes
🐶 Dog-Friendly: Yes
🚶Circular: No
⏰ Distance/time: 1 1/2 miles
ℹ️ More information here
A good walk with older kids as the route is 5 miles and gently undulating on tarmac roads and grassy pathers which can get muddy. Also, take care when walking on the road near Castle Howard as it can get busy with fast-moving traffic.
👶 Buggy friendly: No
🐶 Dog-Friendly: Yes
🚶Circular: Yes
⏰ Distance/time: 5 miles
ℹ️ More information here
