Guisborough and Highcliff Nab

This is a longer walk and a bit of a challenge. Approximately 7 and a half miles long it will take about four hours to complete. Starting at Guisborough Priory and making your way along the Cleveland Way to your destination Highcliff Nab which is worth the effort for stunning views for miles around. If you get lost there's  an excellent phone signal along the route so you can use your GPS signal and as long as you head for Highcliff Nab the way back from there is easy to follow.Getting thereFrom Middlesbrough, go up Ormesby Bank and turn left onto Middlesbrough Road. Keep straight ahead at the first roundabout you come to and then at the second roundabout turn right into Guisborough. Follow the road into Guisborough and turn left on the main road to park outside St Nicholas Church and Guisborough Priory. Take some pound coins for the parking meter!The WalkFrom the car park outside the church follow the path to the left which passes the graveyard until you come to the kissing gate at the end.

 Gate near St Nicholas church

 

                                           Guisborough and Highcliffe Nab walk route 

Follow the path whilst looking behind for an excellent view of Guisborough Priory.

 Guisborough Priory

 Carry on the path through some trees until you come to a gate and onto

Whitby Road. Turn left and a short distance further, cross the road  and go right onto a track over a cattle grid that leads to Foxdale Farm. As the track

swings to the right leave it to follow a well worn track across a field to a stile. 

                                                              Stile across the fieldKeep going across more stiles until you come to a hedged path with a tree to its side.

                                                           Tree on hedged pathContinue along the field edge. Maintain your direction with the hedge to your left and cross the stile at the end to emerge onto the A171 road. Turn almost immediately right next to the farm onto a track until you come to a fork in the road near the sign for Old Park Farm.

 Sign to Old Park Farm

 Keep ahead at this fork in the road over a cattle grid and make the climb up to Spa Wood where the Cleveland Way joins from the left. You will then be

climbing steadily on the road ahead. 

 Road to Spa Wood

 

As you break from the trees higher up this road look for a stile on your right and climb over the stile taking the Cleveland Way route initially through a

heath. You will come to a stile at the end which then leads you into Guisborough Woods. A lot of the trees will have been felled depending when

you take the walk. You will be walking above the woods until you reach a junction which should curve right with a broken wall to your right.

 Keep with the main Cleveland Way track which is well worn until you come to a major junction. Keep to the right on the main forest road. A bit farther on coming to a fork in the road, take the path that leads above steeply into the woods. Carry on this track which is quite lengthy and as the path bends left notice a stile on the right which will lead you onto Highcliff Nab. If you lose

your bearings on this final path to Highcliff Nab use your GPS on your phone and head for Highcliff Nab. There are usually plenty of fellow walkers along

the Cleveland Way who will point you in the right direction. 

 Path to Highcliff Nab

 View from Highcliff Nab

 Seat at Highcliff Nab

 You've made it! Admire the amazing views across Guisborough and further

beyond and have a rest on the seat and maybe have a picnic! 

You can now follow the narrow path to the right and make your way down to look at Highcliff Nab from below.

 

u                                               Views of Highcliff Nab from belowFollow the path down until it meets a gravel track and turn right to meet a T Junction and turn right looking back to take a final picture of Highcliff Nab.

                                                           Path from Highcliff NabAt  another fork which is signalled as the Tees Link route ignore this route and  keep ahead. The sign is in the shape of a back pack!

Keep left at another fork in the road to descend steeply into the woods. You will then come to another junction near a stream.

  

Junction at stream 

At this junction take the road ahead which rises steeply for a short distance until it reaches another fork. Bear left here dropping to the edge of the forest

at Belman Gate and the visitors centre. 

                                    Fork in the road to Belmans Gate

Walk forward taking the lowest of paths that traces the bottom boundary of the forest. Go over a small bridge and brook. Keep by the fence until you eventually come to a gravel track that leads back to Guisborough on the left. Keep on this track crossing a bridge over the old Guisborough railway. At a junction bear right and keep on the path until you come to the main road. Turn left and then turn right at the next two sets of traffic lights and you will end up back at St Nicholas Church car park. GuisboroughNestling above the northern most outcrop of the Cleveland Hills, Guisborough is an historic town with origins in Roman and Saxon settlements. It evolved as the ancient capital of Cleveland and, during the 17th century, became an important centre for alum mining, a chemical then vital to the textile dyeing trade. During the middle ages, Guisborough was dominated by an Augustinian priory, endowed in 1119 by Robert De Brus, ancestor of the famous Scottish king. The influence and prosperity of the community quickly grew and, during the next century, the church was rebuilt on a grand scale. Although now largely in ruins, the eastern end of the priory still stands almost complete, a masterpiece of Decorated architecture. The town remains an attractive and lively place, continuing the colourful tradition of a street market along Westgate.