This walk is one of our three shortened "highlight" walks on the Cleveland Way. It covers the beautiful moorland between Helmsley and Saltburn-by-the-Sea and can easily be walked over 5 days by all fit walkers.

It starts on the edge of the North York Moors National Park and follows the Cleveland Hills through the park to the coast at Saltburn-by-the-sea. The last day is the longest but a climb up Roseberry Topping to see the amazing view, makes it all worthwhile.

Helmsley - Osmotherley : Along the easten edge of the moors

The first section of the Cleveland Way provides an easy woodland walk across the beautiful landscape of the Rye Valley, passing the ruins of Helmsley Castle and later the medieval Rievaulx Abbey.  These ruins are among the most beautiful in England and the dense wooded valley of the river Rye provides a magnificent setting.  The walk then raises gently to the flat limestone plateaux of the Tabular Hills.  It is also worth allowing time to visit the Kilburn White Horse, just before Sutton Bank.

From Sutton Bank the walk is relatively flat, following the western edge of the Hambleton Hills overlooking the Vale of York.  The views from Sutton Bank are breathtaking.  From High Paradise to Black Hambleton the route follows the old road used by the cattle men (drovers) in earlier centuries.  After Black Hambleton you drop down to the idyllic setting of Oakdale's reservoirs, en route to Osmotherley.

Osmotherley - Kildale : Across the top of the North York Moors

This is the most strenuous section of the trail, as the route follows the northern escarpmant of the moors, broken by a series of valley's cutting into the uplands between Huthwaite Green and Clay Bank Top.  The views are stunning over the coastal plain to the North and across the bleak moorland and deep valleys to the South.

After Clay Bank Top a steep climb leads up to Round Hill, the highest point on the route, where tremendous views can be enjoyed. The route then descends gradually to Kildale which is studded with signs of the past - waymarkers, boundary stones and burial mounds.

Kildale - Saltburn-by-the-Sea: Roseberry Topping and on to the Sea

The first part of today's walk is dominated by an ascent of Easby Moor, to Captain Cook's Monument, and then the moorland 'Matterhorn', Roseberry Topping. Although only 1000ft (300m) high, this distinctive conical hill is prominent in the landscape. From the top the views are excellent. Gentler farmland, woodland and a riverside path lead onto the coast at Saltburn-by-the-Sea.