Description
Cleveland Way National Trail are you looking for an outdoor challenge that combines dramatic coastal cliffs with sweeping moorland views? The Cleveland Way National Trail offers one of the best things to do with kids in North Yorkshire if you want to swap screens for wild, open spaces. This long-distance path provides an exceptional backdrop for teaching children about British history, wildlife, and geography while keeping them active.
The entire trail stretches for 109 miles in a horseshoe loop from the market town of Helmsley all the way to Filey Brigg. It treats walkers to two distinct landscapes: the heather-clad hills of the North York Moors National Park and the rugged cliffs of the Yorkshire coast. While completing the full route takes around nine days, families can easily pick shorter, manageable sections perfect for little legs.
Whether your children want to explore ancient castle ruins, search for fossils in hidden coves, or spot seabirds on the cliffs, this trail serves as a massive outdoor playground. It is completely free to access, making it a fantastic budget-friendly option for a day out. Planning your family walk is straightforward, with plenty of accessible entry points, local villages for ice cream stops, and public transport options linking the main hubs.
Features
- Free
- Host birthday parties: Yes
Features
Key Features for a Family Day Out
- Immersive Educational Day Out: Walk through centuries of British heritage as the trail directly passes historic strongholds, medieval monastic ruins, and prehistoric landscapes.
- Sensory Play and Nature Exploring: Children can experience the distinct sights, wild textures, and earthy scents of heather moorland before dropping down into maritime environments.
- Fossil Hunting and Marine Tracking: The coastal stretches open up opportunities for kids to scour rocky shores for ancient ammonites and spot gray seals playing off the shoreline.
- Active Clifftop Adventures: Well-marked routes provide an excellent energy-burning challenge for energetic kids who love climbing hills and standing atop high rock formations.
Top 5 Family Highlights
- The Sutton Bank Panorama: Known famously as one of the finest views in England, this high inland escarpment allows families to look out across the vast Vales of York and Mowbray. Kids love watching real gliders launch smoothly into the sky from the nearby flying club, riding air currents right beside the path. The paths here are flatter and much easier for younger children to navigate safely.
- Helmsley Castle to Rievaulx Abbey: Starting from the historic market town of Helmsley, this gentle 3-mile walk follows a beautiful woodland path down into a sheltered valley. Children can run through the towering stone arches of Rievaulx Abbey, a dramatic ruined monastery that feels like a film set. It is a brilliant way to combine fresh air with an active, hands-on history lesson.
- The Clifftops of Robin Hood's Bay: This coastal stretch introduces children to the historic world of 18th-century smugglers who once used the maze of steep, narrow alleys to hide contraband. Walking the clifftops north towards Maw Wyke offers spectacular views of waves crashing against the rocks below. The trail drops right down into the bay, letting kids seamlessly transition from walking to exploring the beach.
- The 199 Steps and Whitby Abbey: As the trail cuts directly through the famous maritime town of Whitby, families can climb the historic stone steps leading up to the headland. At the top sit the towering Gothic ruins of Whitby Abbey, which famously inspired the classic story of Dracula. It is a fantastic spot for older children who enjoy spooky legends and panoramic harbor views.
- Filey Brigg Rock Promontory: Marking the official endpoint of the 109-mile journey, this long, narrow peninsula reaches out into the North Sea. It is a paradise for budding geologists and wildlife spotters, offering deep rock pools teeming with small crabs, sea anemones, and fish. It provides a thrilling sense of adventure as you walk out with the sea surrounding you on both sides.
Detailed Inventory of Attractions, Exhibits, and Landscapes
- The Cleveland Way features a rich inventory of historical sites, distinct geographic landmarks, and organized trails. When planning your route, you can build your day around these specific locations:
- Helmsley Castle: A 900-year-old medieval fortress featuring a grand mansion house, deep defensive ditches to explore, and interactive kids' activity trails.
- Rievaulx Abbey Ruins: A beautifully preserved Cistercian monastery managed by English Heritage, offering family audio tours and wide grass lawns.
- The White Horse of Kilburn: A massive iconic figure cut into the hillside limestone, visible from miles away and accessible via steep walking steps.
- Mount Grace Priory, House and Gardens: The best-preserved Carthusian monastery ruins in Britain, complete with reconstructed monk cells and regular woodland walks.
- The Wainstones: A spectacular jumble of massive sandstone rocks near Clay Bank that provides an exciting, natural climbing scramble for older kids.
- Captain Cook’s Monument: A towering stone obelisk on Easby Moor dedicated to the famous local explorer, offering commanding views across the landscape.
- Gisborough Priory: Dramatic 14th-century church ruins standing at the edge of the market town of Guisborough, perfect for a short, peaceful exploration.
- Staithes Historic Fishing Village: A tightly packed coastal haven featuring narrow stone lanes, tiny cottage fronts, and the small Staithes Museum detailing local history.
- Scarborough Castle: A sprawling fortress situated on a high rocky headland separating two massive sandy bays, featuring vast grounds for children to run around.
Beyond the Main Attraction
- If you want to stretch your day out into a full itinerary, the trail is surrounded by excellent secondary spots directly accessible from the main path.
- The Danby Lodge National Park Centre: Located a short drive inland from the coastal path, this dedicated hub offers indoor interactive exhibitions, art galleries, and a brilliant outdoor mud kitchen and adventure play area for children.
- Skinningrove Beach: Tucked neatly beside the trail, this quiet sandy beach is a regular hub for organized community rock-pooling adventures, heritage photography walks, and fossil-hunting excursions.
- The North Yorkshire Moors Railway: A historic heritage steam railway that intersects with walking routes near the trail, allowing families to hop on authentic vintage trains to travel between walking hubs.
- Deepdale Woods: A lush, shaded woodland area located near the trail path that regularly hosts seasonal nature events, including guided family bug hunts and wildlife tracking walks.
0.42 miles
