Whitby to Robin Hood’s Bay

The clifftop walk from Whitby to Robin Hood's Bay follows 11.3 km of the Cleveland Way along the North Yorkshire coast, with 390 metres of total climbing as the path rises and falls across a series of headlands and hidden coves. The route leaves Whitby's harbour past the Abbey ruins on the East Cliff, then strikes south across open farmland and clifftop grass with the North Sea stretching to the horizon on the left. The coastline here is raw and dramatic — dark shale cliffs, eroded boulder clay and occasional fossil-rich exposures where the Jurassic geology breaks through. Robin Hood's Bay itself, with its tumbling cottages and narrow streets dropping to the shore, provides one of the finest finishes to any coastal walk in England. The return can be made by bus or as an out-and-back.

This dog friendly walk offers moderate off-lead potential on the open clifftop sections, though leads are needed through farmland where livestock graze — sheep are common on the fields adjoining the coast path. The cliff edges require careful management, particularly where erosion has narrowed the path. The salt wind carries strongly along the entire route, and the changing coastal scent — seaweed, shale, wild thyme on the cliff grass — keeps dogs alert and engaged. Several coves along the route provide beach access at low tide for dogs wanting to reach the sea. Both Whitby and Robin Hood's Bay have excellent dog-friendly pubs and cafes. The 390 metres of climbing demands reasonable fitness, as the repeated descents and ascents across the headlands are more tiring than the overall distance suggests.