Castle to Abbey - Yorkshire Coast Challenge
Join Large Outdoors for a 22-mile guided walk along the coastal Cleveland Way and through the North York Moors National Park, from Scarborough Castle to Whitby Abbey. This walk makes a great charity challenge and fundraiser, or simply enjoy a big day out with stunning scenery along the way.
Experience Type: Day Experience
Distance: Approx. 22 miles (35.4km)
Duration: Most groups complete this walk in 10-12 hours
Level: Tough (Walking) - see Large Outdoors Experience Levels here
Age: 16+ (under 18s must be accompanied by their parent/guardian throughout)
Dogs: No dogs, except trained assistance dogs
In a Nutshell:
Feel elated after completing a new challenge - an undulating 22 mile coastal route with the equivalent ascent of summiting Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa)!
Soak up the superb scenery and enjoy the company of fellow challengers, with a Large Outdoors guide taking care of navigation.
Experience the Yorkshire Coast’s beautiful beaches, dramatic cliffs and characterful seaside towns - starting at Scarborough Castle and finishing at Whitby Abbey.
Book our Open Challenge today..
Alternatively book your own exclusive date via our Hire a Guide service. Details can be found here…
Yorkshire’s dramatic coastline unfolds magnificently during the Castle to Abbey - Yorkshire Coast Challenge!
Join Large Outdoors for the Castle to Abbey Coastal Challenge and experience Yorkshire’s dramatic coastline. This 22-mile route along the Cleveland Way National Trail includes over 1000 metres of ascent, comparable to climbing Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa).
Expect lots of ascents and descents, steep sections, and plenty of steps. Along the way, you'll enjoy the chance to glimpse dolphins, seals, and birdlife, walk through wooded glades and along rugged clifftops, and pass through iconic fishing villages like Robin Hood’s Bay in the North York Moors National Park.
Suggested Itinerary
Here’s what we’ve got planned - of course, we may have to offer alternatives or make amendments if the weather misbehaves or other unexpected situations arise!
The day begins at 7:15am in Whitby, where you'll meet your guides and board a coach to Scarborough. The walk starts at Scarborough Castle, a 12th-century fortress. From there, the route follows the Cleveland Way, passing North Bay beach huts and heading up to the cliff tops, with fields on one side and seascapes on the other. You'll enter National Trust woodland at Hayburn Wyke, named for its historic hunting enclosures and sea inlet, and featuring a waterfall that tumbles onto a pebble beach.
After a brief pause, you'll continue through the woodland and onto the cliffs, eventually reaching Ravenscar, a hamlet with remnants of Victorian spa town aspirations. Further along, you'll encounter the alum works ruins. The path then descends to Stoupe Beck and Boggle Hole, where the YHA’s Quarterdeck café offers a chance to refuel.
Leaving Boggle Hole, you'll head through woodland and back onto the headland, with fine views leading to Robin Hood’s Bay. The Cleveland Way meanders through cobbled alleyways and snickets in the village, evoking its smuggling history.
The final leg passes above Saltwick Bay and heads towards the finish at Whitby Abbey.
Most groups complete this walk in 10-12 hours.
In Whitby, celebrate with a pint at Whitby Brewery or enjoy the town's famous fish and chips.
Essential Information
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Meeting Time: 7:15am
Please ensure you give yourself plenty of time to arrive in Whitby and meet you guide by 7:15am. Transport departs at 7:30am, to take you to Scarborough to start the walk. If you miss the transport departure you will not be able to join the walk!Meeting Location:
Turning Circle at the end of Abbey Lane (next to the Church of St Mary)
East Cliff
Whitby
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Parking: There is a large car park available just a 5-minute walk from the meeting location. £9 per vehicle for up to 24hrs - pay by coins, card or RingGo.
The car park address is: Abbey Headland Car Park, Abbey Lane, Whitby, YO22 4JT.
Public Transport: Whitby Train Station has services to/from Middlesborough, Newcastle and Sunderland and buses are available to/from York and Leeds, but the early start for this experience and train timetables generally requires an overnight stay.
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Included:
A Large Outdoors guide to lead you on your Castle to Abbey Coastal Challenge.
Transport from the meeting location in Whitby to the walk’s starting point in Scarborough (so you walk back to Whitby/where your car’s parked).
The chance to make new friends and meet like-minded people - Large Outdoors is all about making outdoor adventures sociable.
Pre-event support from the Large Outdoors team - give us a shout if there’s any advice or information you need and check out our Blog for useful articles too.
Not Included:
Travel to and from the meeting location.
Any extra (i.e. not mentioned above in ‘Included’) excursions or activities that you may partake in which incur a cost.
Any food, drinks or goods you choose to purchase at any shops, restaurant, pubs or cafés visited.
Travel/activity insurance - we recommend having insurance to cover, at a minimum: cancellation and curtailment; medical and emergency expenses (including repatriation); personal accident; injury and death.
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Please see our General (Walking) Kit List.
The compulsory items are selected for your safety, which is of paramount importance to us at Large Outdoors. Each participant should have the items listed.
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What level of fitness is needed?
This trip is rated as Tough (Walking) and you certainly need to be capable of managing ascent and descent - you’ll be tackling the equivalent of Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) after all! You’ll be walking around 22 miles (35.4km) on the day, so ensure your training walks are an appropriate length and don’t forget to include some hills!Click here to see Large Outdoors’ Experience Levels.
Is there a time limit?
We generally allow up to 12 hours to complete the walk, which is adequate for the majority of participants. Our guides do their very best to accommodate the speed of the group they are leading, whilst providing the encouragement needed to complete the challenge. Most groups complete this walk in 10-12 hours.Can I buy food/drink on the walk?
There are no guaranteed stops for water refills or food along the route, so you should bring sufficient water (at least 2-3 litres per person) and plenty of food. There are usually cafés open along the route from late spring until late autumn, serving hot and cold drinks, plus snacks (but these are independently operated so we can’t guarantee availability, or that there will be time for your group to visit).Is there a toilet?
There are public toilets near the walk’s start point in Scarborough, as well as Ravenscar and Robin Hood’s Bay. Local cafés with toilets ask that you make a purchase if you wish to use their facilities, so please make sure you have some money with you. These facilities are independently operated, so we can’t guarantee opening times and/or availability.Can I attend on my own?
Absolutely. The majority of our participants are solo travellers and adventurers. Plenty of fun, laughter and numerous long-term friendships (and a few marriages!) have begun on Large Outdoors experiences since 2008, so there’s no need to feel worried about your first experience, or indeed trying a new type of outdoor activity, with us.Can I bring my dog?
Dogs are not allowed on this experience, except for trained assistance dogs. If you wish to bring your trained assistance dog, please let us know in advance of booking so we can discuss the activity and any additional safety requirements or considerations that may be necessary.
This map is provided for guidance regarding the general location. For detailed meeting information, please refer to the 'Meeting Time & Location' section.