Robin Hoods Bay to Ravenscar
Circular route including the Cleveland Way and the Cinder Path 10 miles.
This is an interesting route, that takes in Boggle Hole, Stoup Bank and The Old Alum Works as well as the Cinder path (the route of the Scarborough to Middlesborough Railway Line).
There are good views over the Bay.
The Cliff top section can be very muddy in the winter (or after prolonged rain) and there are some steep sections.
There are several places where refreshments and facilities are available along the route. Appropriate footwear is essential.
- Leaving Fenay Cottage turn LEFT and then RIGHT descending the steps past The Old Bakery down to the Road.
- Turn LEFT and follow the road to The Smugglers Inn
- Turn RIGHT along Albion Road past the Maid Marion Fish and Chip Shop, You will see a sign for the Cleveland Way on the LEFT at the end of the buildings. You may spot an old metal sign on the wall of the Cottage describing route changes in 1873.
- At the top of the stone steps turn RIGHT up the Boardwalk and wooden steps on The Cleveland Way
- Follow the Cleveland Way signage along the Cliff path to the National Trust Alum Works Below Ravenscar. NOTE. the cliff path descends to sea level at Boggle Hole (Cafe and toilets in the YHA building) and again at Stoup Beck, it is very easy to vary the route and walk along the beach if the tide times are favourable. The Beach is attractive and often quite empty beyond Stoup Beck but there is not an easy route to ascend to Ravenscar.
- The Cleveland way skirts the Alum Works before climbing up to Ravenscar. You follow a concrete farm track for a while. There is a good gravel path to the RIGHT that ascends to the old quarries and then to Ravenscar but following the concrete path across the Golf Course offers some nice panoramic views of Robin Hoods Bay before arriving at the same point, you will pass the quarries on the return leg.
- There is a National Trust Centre here with a small cafe and toilets, but we prefer to continue into Ravenscar itself for an additional 800m or so to the Station Tea Rooms where you can get good homemade food and cakes
- You can either retrace your steps to the National Trust Centre or head along the obvious track towards the sea, at the end of this track turn LEFT onto the coast path and walk towards the Ravenscar Hotel, there are several points along this track where you can get panoramic views of the Bay. Looking down you may be able to see the Grey Seal Colony. The Track then leads back to the road and the National Trust Visitors Centre.
- Follow signs for the Cinder Path. The Cinder path is the route of the old Scarborough to Middlesborough railway line closed by Beeching and now very popular with walkers, cyclists and horse riders. Follow this route back to Robin Hoods Bay. The track was built by hand by teams of workers, somehow this makes the cuttings and embankments all the more impressive.
- The cinder path gently winds its way back to Robin Hoods Bay Village. It Crosses a couple of roads before appearing to terminate at the Fylingthorpe to Robin Hoods Bay Road, turn RIGHT and then, at the T junction RIGHT again to return to the Lower Bay and the Cottage.