Ravenscar to Robin Hood's Bay

A circular day walk from Ravenscar that officially measures 11 miles (17.7 km) and takes about 6.5 hours. It is graded strenuous, around 7/10 in our book, because of rough moorland tracks, stiles, steep descents and ascents at Boggle Hole and Stoupe Beck, and long stretches of exposed sea cliff. The mapped line we hold comes out at 17.05 km (10.59 miles), a normal difference from mapping simplification and consistent with the rounded official figure.

Start and finish at the Ravenscar National Trust Coastal Centre.

• Head inland across Howdale Moor on rough tracks and bridleways, with big open sky and heather.
• Drop through woodland and fields to the Cinder Track, the old Scarborough to Whitby railway line, and follow it toward the coast.
• Walk into Robin Hood's Bay, then climb Flagstaff Steps to pick up the clifftop path.
• Continue along the coast to Boggle Hole and Stoupe Beck, each of which means a steep drop down and a steep pull back out.
• Cross Stoupe Beck on the footbridge and climb steadily on the Cleveland Way, passing the Peak Alum Works before returning to Ravenscar.

The walk starts high on the Ravenscar headland, works its way down close to sea level on the coastal stretch, and then climbs all of that height back on the return leg. Expect a mix of rough moor track, old railway bed, field paths with stiles, village streets and steps, and narrow clifftop trail. The steep sections at Boggle Hole and Stoupe Beck, followed by the long climb back to Ravenscar, are the sting in the tail. Save energy for the end rather than spending it on the moor.

Cliff edges are genuinely exposed in places, and visibility can turn quickly on both the moor and the coast. Carry a map and a compass or a charged navigation device, plus wind and rain layers whatever the forecast looked like at the car. The official route notes a shore alternative at Robin Hood's Bay that is only usable at low tide, but this route stays on the cliff path and should not be treated as a beach walk. On the Cinder Track, share the way with cyclists and horse riders.

The named start is the Ravenscar Visitor Centre and National Trust Coastal Centre, grid reference NZ 981 016. Parking in Ravenscar is free roadside, so there is no dedicated car park and no guarantee of a space; arrive early and park considerately. Public toilets are about 200 metres from the Visitor Centre.

Dogs are welcome but must be on a lead or under close control throughout. On Howdale Moor keep them on a short lead or tightly at heel, always on a short lead near livestock, and within two metres from 1 March to 31 July to protect ground-nesting birds.

The appeal here is the mix: open moorland, a former railway line, a coastal village, clifftop walking and alum industry remains all inside one loop. The cost is a long day, steep ground at Boggle Hole and Stoupe Beck, and a sustained climb back to Ravenscar when legs are tired. It is also not a walk to shorten on the fly, since the sequence commits you to the full circuit once you are down at sea level.