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The Route
Leave Sandsend heading South West to Dunsley following the road on to Hutton Mulgrave.
To comment with a friendly appraisal upon the hill out of Sandsend; this upward accent is a heave-ho on the pedals, dramatic on an unladened bike and forthcoming upon ones fitness to those touring with panniers full of ones life support for a long ride.
At the top of this hill are some charming holiday cottages within Raven Hill farm, the road becomes enclosed by high hedges before opening to reveal a dramatic view back towards Sandsend Ness in overlooking the Bay.
The road rises and falls along the contours of the hillside before reaching the first of three fords on the journey, the first two have established wooden bridges allowing safe passage when the river is in flood. The third ford, however, has an idyllic stone plinth just wide enough for your feet but impassible with a bike. In all cases the footpaths to these flood bridges were overgrown.
This third ford below Mickleby has a very interesting history. It is known as Jack Robinsons’ beck. The tale about the ford deepens as does the valley with its slow calf burning rise out of the vale by its 33% bank. Jack Robinson, a farmer in the 1700, murdered his maid with a spade and hid her body by the ford deep within the embankment. That winter her body was washed out by a storm. Robinson was hung in York weeks later. When a census was taken to find armaments within the surrounding farms in support of the Napoleonic war, Robinsons’ farm was listed as possessing one spade!
Crossing the B1266 is a little confusing as the signs to Hinderwell point nor-east, while local knowledge understands the village lays to the nor-west. These signposts are all about sending traffic away from Ellerby and around to the A174.
As you cross this minor road, this proposed NCN1 route crosses to Ellerby Bank Top. Here in an appraising moment you will realise that all the huff and puff across the North Riding dramatic landscape is rewarded within a singular anticipation of the descent ahead into the village of Ellerby. At speed with the wind in your face the ride flows straight to the heart of the village, this village is celebrated for the Ellerby restaurant, a hostel of fine cuisine and local beer.
Runswick Bay arrives soon after crossing the A174 by a very fast flowing staggered junction.
This is one point of the ride which, from the Redcar & Cleveland Rangers perspective, is almost to dangerous to offer Sustrans riders. It requires the most advanced of road skills to cross. Admittedly this was the first weekend of the Summer school holidays but the constant speeding cars from both directions were relentless.
Arriving at Runswick Bay was an anticlimax, apart from the Cliffemount pub with its view of the enclosed bay your journey down to the beach was too distant and steep to be rewarding with its lack of amenities.
The ride onward to the pleasant village of Hinderwell is short. We found Hinderwell also lacking in amenities, thereafter, the ride along the A174 to Staithes became a life threatening few miles and not one for cyclists. The Lorries, Buses, Tour Coaches, speeding cars and white vans made this short section of this survey the most frightening of encountered journeys.
Philip Chisholm
Sustrans Liaison Ranger Redcar & Cleveland
Leave Sandsend heading South West to Dunsley following the road on to Hutton Mulgrave.
To comment with a friendly appraisal upon the hill out of Sandsend; this upward accent is a heave-ho on the pedals, dramatic on an unladened bike and forthcoming upon ones fitness to those touring with panniers full of ones life support for a long ride.
At the top of this hill are some charming holiday cottages within Raven Hill farm, the road becomes enclosed by high hedges before opening to reveal a dramatic view back towards Sandsend Ness in overlooking the Bay.
The road rises and falls along the contours of the hillside before reaching the first of three fords on the journey, the first two have established wooden bridges allowing safe passage when the river is in flood. The third ford, however, has an idyllic stone plinth just wide enough for your feet but impassible with a bike. In all cases the footpaths to these flood bridges were overgrown.
This third ford below Mickleby has a very interesting history. It is known as Jack Robinsons’ beck. The tale about the ford deepens as does the valley with its slow calf burning rise out of the vale by its 33% bank. Jack Robinson, a farmer in the 1700, murdered his maid with a spade and hid her body by the ford deep within the embankment. That winter her body was washed out by a storm. Robinson was hung in York weeks later. When a census was taken to find armaments within the surrounding farms in support of the Napoleonic war, Robinsons’ farm was listed as possessing one spade!
Crossing the B1266 is a little confusing as the signs to Hinderwell point nor-east, while local knowledge understands the village lays to the nor-west. These signposts are all about sending traffic away from Ellerby and around to the A174.
As you cross this minor road, this proposed NCN1 route crosses to Ellerby Bank Top. Here in an appraising moment you will realise that all the huff and puff across the North Riding dramatic landscape is rewarded within a singular anticipation of the descent ahead into the village of Ellerby. At speed with the wind in your face the ride flows straight to the heart of the village, this village is celebrated for the Ellerby restaurant, a hostel of fine cuisine and local beer.
Runswick Bay arrives soon after crossing the A174 by a very fast flowing staggered junction.
This is one point of the ride which, from the Redcar & Cleveland Rangers perspective, is almost to dangerous to offer Sustrans riders. It requires the most advanced of road skills to cross. Admittedly this was the first weekend of the Summer school holidays but the constant speeding cars from both directions were relentless.
Arriving at Runswick Bay was an anticlimax, apart from the Cliffemount pub with its view of the enclosed bay your journey down to the beach was too distant and steep to be rewarding with its lack of amenities.
The ride onward to the pleasant village of Hinderwell is short. We found Hinderwell also lacking in amenities, thereafter, the ride along the A174 to Staithes became a life threatening few miles and not one for cyclists. The Lorries, Buses, Tour Coaches, speeding cars and white vans made this short section of this survey the most frightening of encountered journeys.
Philip Chisholm
Sustrans Liaison Ranger Redcar & Cleveland