Staithes to Port Mulgrave & Hinderwell
Distance: 5 miles
Time: 2 hours 45 minutes
Grade: Easy
Map: OL27 - North York Moors Eastern Area.
Walk Summary
This 5 1/2 miles walk offers a mixture of experiences. There is no parking within the village, the pay and display car park has toilet facilities and a cafe.
Staithes (Old English meaning landing place). The renowned explorer James Cook started a new life here in 1745 after leaving Great Ayton. Staithes is built in to a high cliff cove that provides the village with natural protection as it straddle Staithes Beck. During the 16th & 17th centuries the village was a prosperous key fishing port. The walk follows the quaint shops and cottages that line the narrow cobble streets down to the harbour. The rocky beach is a good place to explore and maybe for a bit of crabbing, (Tidal Times).
Around mid September the village hosts a highly popular heritage and art festival. The Staithes Museum showcases the history of the village and its inhabitants over the centuries.
From the harbour the walk ascends Church Street out of the village, where it meets a stone laid pathway of the Cleveland Way which follows the coastal path to the Old Nab, a small rocky outcrop with a single weather carved stack. The path to the stack requires caution and in wet conditions poses a serious risk to slipping and falling. The walk follows the coastal path to Port Mulgrave.
Port Mulgrave (formerly named Rosedale) where a harbour was built 1856-1857 to ship the ironstoned mined around Hinderwell to the blast furnaces in Jarrow. The port fell in to decline and abandoned by 1920 as cheaper ironstone was imported. The Royal Engineers destroyed the west harbour break water to prevent it being used for any German invasion during World War II.
The beach is said to be good for fossil foraging, where a range of ammonites & reptile remains have been found. The steep and uneven path down to the beach requires care. Check the tide times before accessing the beach. The walk then leaves the coast following Rosedale Lane down to Hinderwell.
Hinderwell sits on the edge of the picturesque North Yorkshire Moors National Park, during the 19th century it was renowned for mining ironstone, today the village is more sedate. The Hinderwell annual agricultural show in August is popular fun event. The show stems from an argument between two local men over who had the best Cleveland Bay foal.
St Hilda's church dates back to 1773 was named after St Hilda who finded the mmonastery at Whitby in 657AD, the well in the church yard was regarded sacred became a pilgrimage during the Middle Ages. The water was said to have healing powers for eye conditions. The village name is derived from the old English Hildewella - "Hild's well".
The walk passes the Old School (on the left), now a tea room and village hub, a convenient place for a cuppa and a light bite to eat, or nip along to the dog friendly The Badger Hounds pub a two minute walk along the High Street (A174).
From the Old School Tea Rooms (on the left) the walk turns right and follows Porret Lane to a vehicle track on the right that leads the footpath down to Oakrigg Wood.
Oakrigg Wood is a mix of pine and native broadleaf trees, including 65 varieties of oak. The woodland doubles as a local nature reserve, as such hunting is forbidden. The pathways are clearly defined and well trodden, there are a number of pathways providing plenty to explore. The main path follows the beck for part of the way, this can act as a good reference point, after exploring or if disorientated. The main path is laid with stone chips and plastic matting this provides good drainage during the wetter months.
