Sandsend Coastal Walk

A short and easy walk from Sandsend. Heading along the coast and then inland to pass through the quiet villages of Goldsborough and Kettleness before taking the coastal path back to Sandsend.

Technical sheet No. 2472086

A Lythe walk posted on 23/08/19 by Alwayswiththehills. Last update : 14/09/22
Calculated time Calculated time: 3h40[?]
Distance Distance : 10.46 km
Vertical gain Vertical gain : 228 m
Vertical drop Vertical drop : 225 m
Highest point Highest point : 146 m
Lowest point Lowest point : 7 m
Easy Difficulty : Easy
Back to starting point Back to starting point : Yes
Walking Walking
Area Area : North York Moors
Location Location : Lythe
Starting point Starting point : N 54.50465° / W 0.673586°
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Sandsend Walk 2 Sandsend Walk 1 Runswick Bay and coast Runswick Bay

Description

Park at Sensend. There is good parking as shown on the map but if it is full there is some additional parking on the right as you drive towards Whitby. (Note Sandsend is popular and on a warm summers day you may struggle to get a parking place)

(D/A) From the carpark, take the steps up and onto the coastal path, follow this in a northerly direction. It follows the track of an old railway line used by the Alum works. The cliffs have remains of spoil heaps where little grows and an old quarry. You will arrive at a railway tunnel which is now partly bricked up.

(1) Take the steps right of the tunnel up and continue along the path beside the edge of a field with a hedge and ancient sandstone wall on your left. As you come out at the cliff tops again follow the path left towards a signpost.

(2) At the signpost, turn left (Lythe) and follow the path beside the edge of another field to a junction with a path on the right.

(3) Turn right and take the path to Overdale Farm, pass beside the farm and continue along the farm road to the minor road between Lythe and Goldsborough.

(4) Turn right and follow the road in single file as it is narrow. Almost immediately, there is a sharp left turn into Goldsborough. A small country pub is the first building you will come to. Continue through the village and as you leave, just after Low Farm there is a path (metal signpost) into a field on the right. (Note this is different to the way shown on the OS map as the right of way has been re-routed slightly)

(5) Walk along the field edge and follow it to a kissing gate into a second field. The second field may have livestock in it : be careful of cows if they have young. Ahead you will see a slight rise, this is the site of an old Roman signal station, cross the field to the rise then head to a rusty metal gate on the left in front of a dilapidated wooden barn. Walk to the gate where there is a stile.

(6) Cross the stile and then go diagonally over the field to the old chapel with the colourful tiles on its roof.

(7) At the chapel, join the road to Kettleness, turn right and walk into the village, passing the delightful old railway station on the left. The road bends down to the left through the village and brings you out at some limited parking above the cliffs. (There are a couple of benches here and it's a good place to stop and eat and enjoy the views over Runswick Bay)

(8) Turn right along the Cleveland Way and take the coastal path along the cliff tops back to (2). Follow the path back through the field and down the steps then back to Sandsend.(D/A)

Waypoints :
D/A : km 0 - alt. 8 m - Car park
1 : km 1.71 - alt. 76 m
2 : km 2.34 - alt. 85 m
3 : km 2.52 - alt. 97 m
4 : km 3.54 - alt. 128 m
5 : km 4.22 - alt. 146 m
6 : km 4.67 - alt. 127 m
7 : km 5.02 - alt. 103 m - Chapel
8 : km 5.4 - alt. 91 m - Kettleness
D/A : km 10.46 - alt. 7 m - Car park

Useful Information

Pub at Goldsborough and a lovely cafe next to the car park at Sandsend.

The path is in good condition but can be muddy after rain.

Visorando and this author cannot be held responsible in the case of accidents or problems occuring on this walk.

During the walk or to do/see around

The coastal views are great, do this walk on a day with good visibility.

There is a Trail booklet about the industry and a Geocache Arts Trail please see below for more info.

https://www.northyorkmoors.org.uk/visiti...

Opinions and comments

Average

Global average : 4.42/5
Number of opinions : 4
Clarity of route description : 4.25/5
Clarity of route map : 4.5/5
Walk interest : 4.5/5


Walker
on Mon 26 Sep 2022 09:39:40 CEST

Global average : 5 / 5

Date of walk : 26/09/22
Clarity of route description : Very good
Clarity of route map : Very good
Walk interest : Very good

Great walk with sea views. The climb from the old railway track is quite testing with some wooden steps and some strategically placed stones, care needed. Stopped off at the pub on route and sat in the garden there. Would recommend this walk.


Walker
on Mon 05 Sep 2022 13:23:48 CEST

Global average : 4.67 / 5

Date of walk : 18/08/22
Clarity of route description : Very good
Clarity of route map : Very good
Walk interest : Good

Enjoyed this walk very much with perfect walking weather and beautiful sea views. Had a lovely whitby crab sarnie at The Hart Inn in Sandsend which set me up nicely for the walk back to Whitby.


Walker
on Mon 15 Nov 2021 11:58:49 CET

Global average : 3.67 / 5

Date of walk : 27/10/21
Clarity of route description : Average
Clarity of route map : Good
Walk interest : Good

Nice route up and then returning to car park along coast path. Good views out to sea - choppy sea and coastal wind on the day we walked.

Comment about whether suitable for all is valid but no more so than when having to cross stiles on other country walks.


Walker
on Mon 20 Jul 2020 18:36:33 CEST

Global average : 4.33 / 5

Date of walk : 20/07/20
Clarity of route description : Good
Clarity of route map : Good
Walk interest : Very good

Says Easy which it is not if you are elderly as there are steep steps that need to be done in both directions. This should be pointed out that there are steep steps

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The GPS track and description are the property of the author.

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