Great Ayton to Cliff Ridge Wood

This is a walk originally published as part of a series of 6 walks available as leaflets from the Tourist Information Centre (TIC) in Great Ayton. The TIC is located in the Library, west of the High Green. This walk gives several options for routes - all leaving the village with Walk A then choosing return legs Walk B, Walk C or Walk D.

Distance: 2.5 to 4.5 miles

Time: the shortest path to the wood will take about half an hour. For the full circular route

allow about 2 hours

Grade: moderate

Conditions: the main paths in Cliff Ridge Wood have long been popular with village

people. The wood is attractive throughout the year and especially so at bluebell time.

Gradients tend to be gentle unless the climb to Roseberry Topping is being attempted.

After rain all paths can be very muddy.

Refreshments: Great Ayton and Woodhouse Farm cafe

Walk A - from 1 to 2 on the map

The most attractive, and shortest (1 mile) route to Cliff Ridge is to leave the Tourist Information Centre, (TIC) in the Library walk along High Green, then follow the road onto Newton Road, (the road to Guisborough).

In about 100 yards go right through a cast iron kissing gate and a tiny wood, followed by open fields. More kissing gates follow including one giving access to a sunken section of the path which partly obscures the view of Cleveland lodge to the left.

Soon after crossing the Middlesbrough to Whitby railway line you climb across a large add to the wood. A National Trust information post stands at the first crossing of paths. A return walk to the village can be made either to the left (see Walk B below) or right (see Walk C below).

Walk B - from 2 to 1 via 3 on the map

If you turn left at the National Trust post the return route to the village takes you through a long stretch of woodland with extensive views down across the fields to the village. After half a mile the huge gash of the former quarry is seen on the right. Nature has reasserted itself here for the rims are entirely covered with trees and gorse.

You will join a track coming in from the left and should follow it to just beyond the railway bridge. At that point go left along a path to re-enter the village by the side of 102 Roseberry Crescent. Turn left along the Crescent and left again in half a mile at Newton Road for the TIC in the Library. (2 miles)

Walk C - from 2 to 1 via 4 on the map

Go right at the National Trust post through the wood and across one field to Aireyholme

Lane. (Aireyholme Farm, the home of Captain Cook’s father and James when he was a youth, is a quarter of a mile to the left.) Our walk turns right following the lane to a crossroads where go right for 1 mile past the station to the village. (2 miles)

Walk D - 2 to 1 via 5 on the map

Follow the same route as C to the crossroads where go straight ahead. In a quarter of a mile

tum right down a track and re-cross the railway. Continue across one field to Woodhouse Farm. The pretty village of Little Ayton, set by the River Leven, is reached in a further quarter of a mile. Turn right at the bridge for Great Ayton. (Two and a half miles)