Cleveland Way

Great for active first-timers and experienced hikers alike.

Before your tour, we recommend hiking regularly and incorporating some hilly terrain into your routine. Be sure to check the daily distances and elevation changes outlined in your itinerary.

The path follows footpaths, tracks and cliff paths as well as traversing through fields and moorland. Some of the ascents and descents are steep and can be exposed so require a good head for heights and sure-footedness in places.

Take care when following paths near cliff edges, especially in wet or windy conditions.

This tour is graded moderate. Within the tour individual days may vary in difficulty - some might be a bit tougher or easier than the overall rating suggests.

Accommodation is one of the highlights of this tour - we specifically choose small hotels, inns, guesthouses and B&Bs that offer a warm welcome to walkers, traditional hospitality and delicious local food.

Yes, solo travelers are very welcome. There will be a supplement because some costs, like transfers, aren't shared. Or if you'd like to book a single room, just ask. These are available for a supplement.

Please note it's not generally possible to secure more than three single rooms within one party.

A hearty breakfast is included each morning. Lunch and dinner aren't included, so you're free to choose from the available options - most accommodations are happy to provide a packed lunch on request, bookable on arrival, and dinner is available either at your accommodation or at nearby pubs and restaurants.

April and May have traditionally been the most popular months to walk the Cleveland Way, with many believing the weather is at its best then, though any time between April and October offers a wonderful experience.

Your bags will be collected from your accommodation each day and moved onto your overnight accommodation. We ask you to limit your luggage to one bag per person - the current site content doesn't specify a maximum weight, so please confirm the correct limit with product before this goes live.

Most of the Cleveland Way is clearly waymarked with the classic Acorn symbol used for National Trails. Along the coastal section, you'll follow the King Charles III Coast Path, waymarked with either a blue 'N' symbol or the England Coast Path Acorn symbol.

Navigation is straightforward using our app which has maps, tracks and daily route info. Simply download the information and tracks for offline use and follow the route on your phone. Once on the trail you do not need signal for the app to work and follow your progress.

Recommended Reading
If you would like more information on the route please see our recommendation below:
Guidebook: The Cleveland Way by Paddy Dillon, published by Cicerone

The closest airport to the start of the walk is Leeds Bradford International, from here you can catch a train to Malton (around 55 minutes), which is 16 miles from Helmsley, then a bus or taxi on to Helmsley. Helmsley doesn't have its own train station, the closest is at Malton, from the south, trains run via York to Malton, then a taxi or bus to Helmsley (check National Rail for timetables). If you're driving, there's a car park on the north side of Helmsley, with weekly parking tickets available from the Tourist Information office in the market square.

For the coastal end of the walk, Scarborough has good rail connections to York and onward across the UK, to return to Helmsley, catch the train to Malton and then a bus or taxi. For the moors and coastal section of the walk, frequent trains run from the south to Saltburn, and you can catch a bus or train back to Helmsley from Scarborough.

You'll need good hiking shoes or boots, comfortable hiking clothes, waterproofs, a daypack, and we recommend hiking poles. A portable charger for your cell phone is essential. On booking, our Tour Info will give you a complete packing list.

On certain days you can shorten the route or skip it entirely by using a taxi or public transport.

The Moors Bus operates throughout the North York Moors and can be a useful option here.

This tour runs in one direction only (from Helmsley towards the coast), as the luggage transfer service we use only operates one way along this route.

We highly recommend that you have travel insurance when you book with Macs Adventure. Your policy should cover medical treatment (including repatriation and emergency evacuation by air ambulance or helicopter), injury, death, third-party liability, and trip cancellation