Post on 20-Mar-2017
Guisborough & Highcliff Nab –
Hard Walk
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!
Guisborough and Highcliffe Nab walk route
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.
Follow the path whilst looking behind for an excellent view of 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.
Keep going across more stiles until you come to a hedged path with a tree to its side
Continue 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.
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.
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.
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.
Follow 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.
At 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.
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.
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.