Parking
Start at Great Ayton village green. Roadside parking is available in Great Ayton; a car park at Gribdale lies on the route between the monument and Roseberry Topping but is not the official start.
Overview
About Roseberry Topping and Cook’s Monument
Why go
- Two major viewpoints in one circuit
- Good mix of village, woodland and open moor
Heads up
- Steep climbs, steps, stiles and muddy ground
- Long exposed middle section
Map & elevation
The route
Loading the North York Moors map
Full mapElevation89–321 m
Plan your hike
Before you go
Parking
Safety
8 active North York Moors alerts
- ClosureHawnby Bridleway 110 closurePublic Bridleway 25.122/110/1 in Hawnby is closed to pedestrians, cyclists and equestrians because its bridge is unsafe. - The closure is between grid references SE 5309 9073 and SE 5335 9097.Official details
- ClosureWest Ayton Footpath 1 closurePublic Footpath 1 in West Ayton (Forge Valley) is temporarily closed because its boardwalk is unsafe. - The closure is between SE 9860 8494 and SE 9839 8712.Official details
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
North York Moors Tour Guide
Your drive to Roseberry Topping and Cook’s Monument, narrated.
Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for North York Moors National Park. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.
Recorded for this area
Roseberry Topping0:00 / 0:38
“You're coming up on Roseberry Topping, the jagged cone that stands alone above the fields near Newton under Roseberry.”
Plays on the road 2.3 km from the trailhead in the Parkwolf North York Moors Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- Easby Moor's Other Memorial
- Gribdale Gate and Captain Cook's Monument
- The Incline That Pulled Itself
- Kildale Station and Warren Moor Mine
- 298 audio storiesacross North York Moors’s roads, triggered by GPS as you drive
- Wildlife heatmapsfor Eurasian Otter, Red Deer, Grey Seal, and 13 more
- Works offlinemaps, 126 trails, 65 places, and audio download before you lose signal
- CarPlay readysimple controls built for the drive
“Fantastic app with many points of information… It’s great to just turn on while you’re driving and it gives you an audio tour of the national Park. We love it!!!!”
Trail guide
Hiking Roseberry Topping and Cook’s Monument
The shape of the walkThis is a loop of 7.2 miles (11.
This is a loop of 7.2 miles (11.52 km) in total, not a one-way distance, starting and finishing at Great Ayton village green (grid reference NZ562106). Allow 3 to 4 hours; 3.5 hours is a fair working estimate for steady walkers who stop for the views.
SequenceThe appeal is the contrast: village streets, farmland and field paths, sheltered woodland, then…
The appeal is the contrast: village streets, farmland and field paths, sheltered woodland, then exposed moor and two clear high points.
- Leave the village green, cross Great Ayton and out through fields
- Continue through Cliff Ridge Wood and along Aireyholme Lane
- Climb to Captain Cook's Monument on Easby Moor
- Follow the Cleveland Way north across Gribdale and open moorland
- Take the stone steps up to Roseberry Topping for 360-degree views
- Descend through oak and Newton woods, then return via Cliff Ridge Wood into Great Ayton
Difficulty and footingRate this challenging, in the moderate to hard band.
Rate this challenging, in the moderate to hard band. There are several steep climbs, engineered stone steps, uneven and rocky footpaths, muddy stretches, and stiles to cross. Two separate summit ascents in one circuit is the part people underestimate; the pull up to Roseberry Topping comes late, after the monument climb has already taken the sharpness out of your legs. Boots with grip and ankle support make more difference here than speed.
This route is not suitable for wheelchairs or pushchairs.
Weather, exposure and wayfindingA good part of the middle section crosses open moorland with no shelter, so wind and low cloud…
A good part of the middle section crosses open moorland with no shelter, so wind and low cloud are felt fully. Visibility matters for both navigation and the payoff at the top, and junctions on the moor need attention rather than assumption. Carry a map or offline route and check the forecast before committing. Note also a short road and lane section around Aireyholme Lane, where you should expect occasional vehicles.
Dogs, parking and accessDogs are welcome, but keep them on a lead near livestock, and expect stiles that some dogs will…
- Dogs are welcome, but keep them on a lead near livestock, and expect stiles that some dogs will need help with
- Roadside parking in Great Ayton; a car park at Gribdale sits between the monument and Roseberry Topping, though the official route begins and ends at the village green
- Public toilets in Great Ayton
- Great Ayton has a daily rail service, which makes a car-free visit realistic
Before you set offFill water and use the facilities in the village, since there is nothing on the moor.
Fill water and use the facilities in the village, since there is nothing on the moor. Other published versions of this walk range from roughly 6.5 to 7.6 miles depending on where they cut in and out; the figure above is the full managed circuit from the village green, so plan your time on that.
Wildlife
Wildlife in North York Moors
15 sightingsEurasian OtterMost seen around 7 PMSighting map
10 sightingsRed DeerMost seen around 7 AMSighting map
79 sightingsGrey SealMost seen around noonSighting map
26 sightingsWestern Barn OwlMost seen around 7 PMSighting map
33 sightingsEuropean BadgerMost seen around 7 PMSighting map
10 sightingsMute SwanMost seen around noonSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across North York Moors. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
