My Walking Journeys

The Cleveland Way- Helmsley to Sutton Bank.

Hello and welcome back to my blog 😊.

Angela and I have returned to North Yorkshire to walk the inland section of The Cleveland Way, Helmsley to Saltburn-by-Sea. We had completed the last leg of the Cleveland Way coastal section a couple of weeks ago and the whole walk had been just a wonderful experience.

https://oldblokewalking.blog/2026/10/03/the-cleveland-way-port-mulgrave-to-saltburn/

The weather forecast is not auspicious for the week but today we began our journey, and completed leg 1 from Helmsley to Sutton Bank in good weather.

It was a quiet Sunday morning when we arrived into Helmsley and parked in the long stay car park. The church bells were ringing but unfortunately it was not a pleasant experience, as the ringing seemed out of sync!

Glad to be leaving Helmsley we soon passed the sculpted marker stone for the start of the Cleveland Way. There is a similar marker at Filey Brigg.

A stone monument with engravings situated in a park, featuring autumn foliage, a building in the background, and fallen leaves on the ground.
Marker for the start of The Cleveland Way.
Wooden signpost for Cleveland Way footpath indicating distances to Rievaulx (21.5 miles) and Filey (109 miles), with pedestrian symbol.

We started a steady climb upwards towards through woodland, valleys and the gently rising limestone slopes of the Hambleton Hills. We would meet very few walkers along the way. We were headed towards Rievaulx Abbey, a majestic ruin, but didn’t manage to glimpse the Abbey. Signage was good and we were following the acorn.

A signpost indicating a walking path towards the North York Moors, set against a backdrop of lush green fields and hills under a cloudy sky.
Follow the acorn

We were happy to see a cute cow with its calf.

Two brown cattle standing in a green field with trees and cloudy sky in the background.
Cute cows

We found ourselves walking along good stone tracks adjacent to lakes. The trees were turning autumnal colours.

Scenic view of a tranquil river surrounded by lush green and autumnal trees under a clear blue sky.
A person pointing at a direction signpost in a park, surrounded by autumn foliage.
Pointing at the sign

A few stepping stones led us into woodland section where we had to clamber over fallen tree branches and avoid the dead bodies of Pheasants – had there been a shoot?

A woman standing on stone stepping stones crossing a stream, surrounded by a lush green landscape with trees and a clear blue sky.

We passed through the quiet village of Cold Kirby and soon we arrived at Sutton Bank where we took a lunch stop on the Hambleton Escarpment enjoying the views.

A panoramic view of rolling hills and lush green fields under a partly cloudy sky.

There is a Glider Club based here and we watched as the gliders flew around in front of us. We could have walked along the escarpment to where the White Horse of Kilburn is situated but, as we had done that walk on another occasion, we decided not to mainly because it was very busy with people.

The escarpment was the scene of the Battle of Byland in 1322 and there was an information board there and a stone.

Informational sign about the Battle of Byland, featuring illustrations of medieval warriors and historical context.
A commemorative stone marking the site of the Battle of Byland, featuring a plaque with the inscription 'The Battle of Byland 14th of October 1322', surrounded by a grassy landscape and a cloudy sky.

We decamped to the busy National Park Centre where we visited the souvenir shop and then retrieved Angela’s car to drive me back to Helmsley to pick up my car.

Exterior view of the Sutton Bank National Park Centre with a welcoming sign, displaying information about the shop, exhibitions, and a map stand.

At Helmsley I found that my mobile phone had no signal so had a frustrating time navigating back to our cottage.

Tomorrow, we are planning to walk from Sutton Bank to Osmotherly, so fingers crossed for some decent weather.

Happy Walking! 😊🚶

oldblokewalking

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