04/05/21 - Staithes Coastal Walk

Distance - 4.75 Miles

Geocaches - 0

Walk Inspiration - Best Pub Walks from North Yorkshire - Walk 15

It was nearly the day we didn't walk. If you watched the Black Country Derby last night, the conditions there have moved North. We had a night of heavy rain but by the time morning came, we were just left with gales.  And who wouldn't want to walk on crumbling sea cliffs in a gale?

If we had have stayed in bed under the duvet, we would have missed completing the shortest walk on our planned itinerary, which happened to also be the best.

And Staithes was a total joy. We save the village for the end of the walk, but it doesn't take too long to determine its most famous son.

Captain Cooks Cottage is in the village

After struggling to find the exit from the cliff top car park, we have a short walk across farmland to enter Oakrigg Wood.  After three days of quite similar farmland/coast terrain its nice to drop into a wild garlic lined dingly dell, complete with a little stream for Guide Dog Abi to play in.  The waves are not going to allow for a sea dip today.

Abi, post dunk

We escape the dell at Hinderwell, emerging on a public footpath that is literally the gully between houses.  They would have been little chance in finding it if we walked in reverse.  If the timing would have been good (both the hour - 10am, and covid restrictions - stopped us) we would have made a slight detour to the Good Beer Guide recommended Brown Cow Pub.  There's a tick that has to wait for another day.

Hinderwell leads to Port Mulgrave - where the Cleveland Way coastal path is picked up.  I can only remember once walking in stronger winds than this.  When I was picked up and bowled over on the top of Ben Lomond.  Fortunately, we keep to our feet but I'm not going to pretend we didn't both shout at each other about "going on holiday by mistake".  That duvet never sounded more appealing.

More North Yorkshire Coastline - heading from Port Mulgrove to Staithes

All weather related misery forgotten when we enter Staithes through a delightfully steep, car free lane. Its all pretty little fishermen cottages, ultimately leading to Captain Cooks Cottage near the harbour.

Dropping Down into Staithes

Surprisingly, given the wind, the handsome looking Cod and Lobster was setting up for outdoor business.  Got to admire us plucky Brits - the temperature is 6 degrees and the wind would not have allowed you to place your pint on a table.

Instead, its a nice sheltered cafe that did a fine line in toasties for humans and dog biscuits for Guide Dogs.

My sort of place

But we settled for coffees opposite the Royal George