North Yorkshire: Where to Walk in Saltburn-by-the-Sea
Tuesday 19th April, 2022 by hs-admin
If you’re taking a short break, walking is the ideal way to get around, as you see so much more of the place you’re visiting. And if you’re renting a holiday let in Saltburn, on the North Yorkshire coast, you’ll be spoilt for choice.
From gentle strolls to full-on hikes, there’s something for all ages and level of ability in this beautiful part of the world.
So, let’s put our best feet forward and look at some of the best routes a North Yorkshire staycation has to offer.
Along the prom
No trip to the seaside would be complete without a stroll along the prom and Saltburn has a particularly fine example.
Take the cliff lift down from the main town and you’ll find yourself right in front of the North Sea. Take a left, and you will end up on the Victorian prom, with the beach on one side and towering cliffs on the other. It’s such a stunning location that The Sunday Times listed it as one of Britain’s Top 40 beaches in 2019, remarking that “boutique beach huts overlook Saltburn’s elegant Victorian prom, offering deckchairs, windbreaks, free tea and coffee, and views across the shingle beach to the spindly pier”.
If you really want to feel the wind in your hair, walk to the end of the pier (if you’re lucky, the yarn bombers may have been busy again) and enjoy the view out across the coast and of the cliff lift.
Or, if you like the feel of the sand beneath your toes, you can hop down onto the beach and walk all the way to Redcar, some four miles to the north.
Like Hunt Cliff, this is another wildlife-rich SSSI woodland, set in a peaceful, secluded valley leading down to the coast.
It used to be known for its bright orange river, the result of groundwater coming up through old ironstone workings, reflecting the area’s industrial past. However, in recent years the gill has been returned to a more natural hue, and the area is a haven for wildlife.
Thanks to its position beneath two cliff edges, it escapes the worst of the heat in Summer and the wind in Winter, providing a refuge for primitive plants like fungi and ferns – ideal for getting back to nature.
Bird’s eye view
Hunt Cliff Nature Reserve towers high above Saltburn beach and is accessible via a very steep set of stairs across from the Cat Nab car park.
However, those who make the journey will be rewarded with breathtaking views across the coastline from what is one of the highest cliffs on the east coast of England.
The nature reserve is also home to a variety of wildlife, most notably the kittiwake, for which it is a site of regional importance for nesting birds, along with other seabirds such as fulmar and cormorant. And if you’re really lucky, you may spot a grey seal from your vantage point above the sea.
There are also a number of interesting sculptures along the way – if you can tear your eyes away from the coastline.
Valley Gardens
Over the road from the beach are the Valley Gardens, an inspiring mix of formal gardens and woodland with something for all ages to enjoy.
As well as the main grassed and gravel route, here are a number of circular walks through the woodland that borders the grassed areas. When you need to take a break, the Victorian-themed Valley Gardens tearoom, in the heart of the gardens, is the perfect spot
And because we know that little legs sometimes get tired of walking, there are also a number of play areas, a beck to play in and a miniature railway, which runs through the Summer months.
If you’d like to stretch your legs, Saltburn has so many places to get those steps in, making it the perfect spot for a walking holiday. And the rest of the North Yorkshire coast is on your doorstep too – perfect for a day out in nearby Whitby or Staithes.
Check out our full selection of holiday lets in Saltburn itself and North Yorkshire.
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