DISTANCE: 10.5 KM (6.5 MILES)
GRADE OF WALK: MODERATE
TIME: 2-3 HOURS
EXPLORER MAP: OL 26
Get away from it all with a forest ramble that also takes in stunning views over the Tees Valley. Stay a while and shop for arts, crafts and fine local produce in the nearby town of Guisborough with its majestic Priory, bustling market and hall. Kirkleatham Museum is also nearby with impressive exhibitions on art, coast and country, ironstone mining and social history.
START/PARKING Fountain Street East car park. OS Map Grid Reference NZ614158
RECOMMENDED ROUTE
Park in one of the Tourism Centre long stay car parks and make your way to the church next to the entrance to Gisborough Priory. This is at the top of the high street. To start use the footpath to the left of the church passing the churchyard. At the kissing gate turn right, signposted Cleveland Street.
Turn left at the road. Just before Guisborough Hall take the track on the opposite side of the road to Foxdale Farm. As the track bears right, take the grassy track left over an isolated stile towards a stile in the top corner. Continue through the following fields until you reach a well-trodden path enclosed by hedges. Continue to reach the main road (A171).
Turn immediately right up a lane passing Little Waterfall Farm. Continue straight towards Old Park Farm. At the Farm turn left over a former cattle grid and head up the track into woodland. Climb the steep concrete track, joining the route of the Cleveland Way. At the end of the woods, take the right footpath signposted Cleveland Way.
Follow the path along the top of the ridge, to reach a stile to your right. Turn left along the grassy track following it as it bends to the left into the forest. When the track curves to the right, take the wide forestry track on the right signposted Cleveland Way.
Follow this wide track through dense forest (ignore tracks leading off) to reach another large area of felled trees. Continue through the clearing and back into the forest winding down before levelling out. Follow the Cleveland Way sign left and carry on along this track climbing up again through the forest to join a wide stony track along the top of the ridge. Turn right along this track for about 800 metres then, where it bends to the left, take the right footpath over a stile that leads to the top of Highcliff Nab.
Follow the steep stone path to the left bearing right beneath the crags of Highcliff Nab. Follow the steep path that leads down to a track crossing your path. At this track take the footpath opposite signposted Teesside Link and continue over another stile at the edge of the forest. Take the right track down through the forest.
At the end turn right to skirt the forest curving round to the left then meandering through the forest (keep to the main track) passing houses above to reach a junction. Head directly ahead running along the edge of the forest (ignore all other tracks). Pass farm buildings on your left and skirt the forest to cross a stile. Head up past gorse (on left) and across the hillside to a stile in the top right corner. Turn left along the enclosed path, which soon opens up to a track and then a road leading up to Guisborough.
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