WTC Ways Day 15: Runswick Bay to Robin Hood's Bay

Distance: 16 miles
Ascent: 500m
Weather: sunny

Leaving the hotel we walked down a steep road, with a stepped pavement down to the beach. We walked over the sand (which was damp and didn't get into ones shoes), low tide being at 10am this morning which was very convenient, hopping over little streams and headed up a wet little gully with a stream running down it. Crossing the stream, we went up the steps with a handrail (according to the guide book this bit used to have a rope to hold on to to pull yourself up the scree) and up more steps in the shade of some little trees and out onto cliff tops, surprising some hares.

As we walked, we had a good look at the gulls: think they are mostly herring gulls, plus something smaller which could be fulmar. There were definitely some cormorants too. Then we decided gulls am too hard.

The route follows around cliff tops, coming down some steep little steps (designed for people with tiny feet) and onto old railway, could see the tunnel entrance going into the cliffside, apparently a mile long. The track runs through old disused alum quarries, now nature reserves, with views of Whitby on the other side of the wide bay.

Round the corner into Sandsend, where we stopped for tea and huge cakes, before walking along the side of the road next to the golf course to Whitby. Through Whitby (people!) and up the 199 steps to the abbey and back out on to peace of the coastal path.

We passed the old fog horn and light house stations and saw lots of sea birds perched precariously on the cliff faces. We had cliffs to our left and fields on our right, some arable, some cows and later mostly sheep. Had our sandwiches by the side of path and then discovered a bench 10 minutes further on, and later agreed that our spot was a lot more sheltered and therefore much better. A path joined at Maw Wyke Hole, near Hawker, the coast to coast path again, which finishes in Robin Hood's Bay, only one walker had made it this far at the same time as us. It was a very pleasant wide cliff top path in the sunshine.

Getting towards the village, we saw the Rocket Post, from where they used to rescue people from wrecks in the breeches buoy. There was a picture of someone being rescued in the breeches looking relieved and yet slightly embarrassed at the same time.

We are staying at the Boat House at the Smugglers' which is down in the old village, right next to the sea. We ate lots of crab and dish, drank wine and then avoided the crowds of hippy guitarists who have invaded for their folk weekend. Folk these days seeming to mean U2 and Guns n Roses...