The Stages

A. The "Official" Stages

The Cleveland Way is one of the National Trails, approximately 109 miles in total distance.  It covers many areas of majestic scenery and places of considerable interest, heritage and history.  It is quite possible, and very easy, to get heavily 'distracted' along the way, taking in all that the extensive route has to offer - spanning much more than 109 miles (for example, visiting Rievaulx Abbey, for a start).

For this reason, we can find few, if any, consistent guides as to the definitive sections.  For the sight-seeing walker with more time on their hands, you can do The Cleveland Way in just about as many stages as you want.  Other websites will tell you the "official" sections are in 6 or 7.  This would be misleading.  As a National Trail, the National Trail website (www.nationaltrail.co.uk/ClevelandWay/) would be the definitive place to find such a definitive guide - it offers no such thing!

However, the National Trail Guide for The Cleveland Way, by Ian Sampson (which we heartily recommend) sets out 9 stages thus:

Helmsley - Sutton Bank [10.2 miles]

Sutton Bank - Osmotherley [11.4 miles]

Osmotherley - Clay Bank [11 miles]

Clay Bank - Kildale [9.25 miles]

Kildale to Saltburn-by-the-Sea [14.75 miles]

Saltburn-by-the-Sea - Sandsend [17.25 miles]

Sandsend - Robin Hood's Bay [10 miles]

Robin Hood's Bay - Scarborough [13.25 miles]

Scarborough - Filey [10.25 miles]

B. The Cleveland Way Fundraiser Challenge Stages

The reality is that The Official Walkers do not have such leisure, being working people whose annual holidays are held sacred.  They are, however, prepared to 'storm' round in an effort to boost fundraising and to ensure they are not unduly chastised by other halves by excess time off work.  They are, though, sacrificing their own holidays as well as putting their feet and limbs on the line for The Learning Tree.

Click here for details of the planned Challenge Stages!