When it comes to walks around Whitby you’re totally spoilt for choice. This gorgeous coastal town is in an almost unique position regarding walking and hiking trails.
Walks around Whitby are plentiful, so you don’t need to worry about your ability or experience. There’s sure to be a walk that is perfect for you. In this guide to Whitby walks, we’ll start with the walks that begin in Whitby and later look at the possibilities outside of town, either as places to walk to or destinations in their own right.

Before you start – Recommended reading!

Historic Walking Guides Whitby, Robin Hood’s Bay, Runswick Bay & Staithes
FREE Whitby Mini-Guide
"Get the best from your stay in Whitby." - Everything you need to know about Whitby into a free mini-guide!
Discover the history of Whitby, Robin Hood’s Bay and Staithes on the North Yorkshire Coast through interesting and themed walks illustrated with maps, pictures and colourful stories.
Short Whitby Walks
Saltwick Bay and the coast path
Takes 1 hour 20 minutes | 2.7 miles / 4.3 km | Easy route

Starting from Whitby Youth Hostel, this is a great, easy walk around Whitby for those who would like to see beautiful views of the town and the harbour. Then, out into the country before returning along the coast path in the shadow of Whitby Abbey.
Follow the route here.
A pushchair and wheelchair friendly circular walk
Takes 2 hours | 2 miles / 3.2 km | Easy route

This easy route is almost entirely paved. The main challenge is the steep slope up Khyber Pass, but it is accessible for wheelchair users and parents with buggies.
We begin this walk around Whitby at The Pescado Lounge. This is a great leisurely walk to take in the sights and history of Whitby.
Follow the route here.
Whitby to Ruswarp circular walk
Takes 45 minutes – 1 hour | 2 miles / 3.2 km | Easy route

The Ruswarp Round Circular Walk is a fantastic Whitby walk that dives straight into the surrounding beauty of the neighbouring village of Ruswarp.
This easy two-mile walk, which includes the River Esk Tidal Sanctuary, Larpool Viaduct, the Ancient Monks Trod path, and the North York Moors Railway, is one of our favourites.
Follow the full route here.
Robin Hood’s Bay wildlife and heritage walk
Takes 30 minutes | 1.2 miles / 2 km | Easy route

Robin Hood’s Bay has a long and exciting history, from its geology to its former role as the heart of the local fishing industry.
This iconic landscape is a beautiful place to explore. It is a lovely, easy walk that allows you to explore all Robin Hood’s Bay offers.
Check the tide tables to ensure you have time to enjoy the beach section at the start.
You can follow this route here.
Staithes to Port Mulgrave circular route
Takes 2 hours 30 minutes | 4 miles / 6.4 km | Easy route

One of the most popular walks around Staithes is the circular route that takes the coastal road south to Port Mulgrave before returning through farmland and picturesque woodland. The route is relatively easy to follow.
Port Mulgrave is a lovely place to stop and rest. It has several cafes and pubs to refresh your palate before returning.
If you’re feeling a bit more energetic, you might like to continue when you reach Port Mulgrave and visit Runswick Bay; it’s another beautiful place well worth a visit.
Follow the route here.
Whitby to Sandsend
Takes 1-2 hours | 3 miles / 4.8 km | Easy route

A really popular coastal walk is from Whitby to the nearby village of Sandsend. It boasts cliff-top views and a relatively flat path.
The walk starts from the atmospheric ruins of Whitby Abbey. After exploring Sandsend, you could even return to Whitby along the beach, but please check the tide times before you do this.
The Mulgrave Estate is located right next to Sandsend, so if you want to go further, it is a perfect place to extend the walk. Miles of peaceful woodland trails take you to becks, waterfalls, and the fascinating ruins of Mulgrave Castle.
You could also continue along the Cleveland Way and visit Runswick Bay. It’s another lovely fishing village with a sandy beach, sheltered bay and pretty little cottages.
Follow the route here.
Moderate Walks around Whitby
Whitby Abbey, Lighthouse and Saltwick Bay circular route
Takes 2 hours 10 minutes | 5.2 miles / 8.3 km | Moderate route

We love this moderate circular walk with modest uphill walking around Whitby. It climbs and heads away from the town to the Whitby Lighthouse.
The walk along the clifftop past Saltwick Bay affords wonderful sea and cliff views. The walk then heads back into Whitby via the historic ruins of Whitby Abbey and then down the 199 steps back into town.
Start either in town or up at the Abbey Car Park.
You can follow the route here.
Whitby Cleveland Way viaduct circular
Takes 4 hours | 7 miles / 11.2 km | Moderate route

Tackle this hike along the Cleveland Way with stunning views across the North Sea in a half-day walk from Whitby.
This walk involves a fantastic selection of scenery, from the coast’s natural beauty to the audacity of Victorian engineering—it has a panorama like no other.
We recommend a local map for this route since there are some technical turns and place names that Google cannot identify. You can buy the OL27 North York Moors Eastern area here.
Begin at Whitby Bridge. You can follow the route here.
Whitby to Runswick Bay coastal route
Takes 4 hours | 7 miles / 11.2 km | Moderate route

Enjoy a long ramble north from Whitby to the serene charm of Runswick Bay. There’s much to enjoy along the way. Especially for fossil hunters and beach lovers.
This hike up towards Staithes makes the most of the Dinosaur Coast, but this slightly longer walk isn’t for the faint-hearted. You’ll definitely earn a drink or three!
More details of the Whitby to Runswick Bay coastal route are here.
Whitby to Robin Hoods Bay
Takes 3 hours 20 minutes | 7 miles / 11.2 km | Moderate route

This coastal walk follows a popular section of the Cleveland Way from Whitby to Robin Hood’s Bay. It’s a stunning stretch of coast with pretty bays and clifftop views.
We love this walk because it’s easy to follow on decent footpaths and can easily be extended further. You could continue along the coast path to Ravenscar and visit Harwood Dale Forest. You could also try the Ravenscar to Robin Hood’s Bay Circular Walk, which perfectly combines fine inland moorland scenery with the coast.
Follow the route here.
North York Moors to Robin Hoods Bay
Takes 4 hours | 8 miles / 12.8 km | Moderate route

This route is perfect if you fancy a decent-sized walk to Robin Hood’s Bay, heading inland with fine views across the Bay.
After Fyling Hall and the restored watermill at Ramsdale, return to the sea at Stoupe Brow. If the tide is out, continue along the beach; otherwise, follow the clifftop Cleveland Way by way of Boggle Hole, back to ‘Bay Town’ and devour some fish and chips.
The full route can be found here.
Robin Hood’s Bay to Ravenscar circular
Takes 5 hours | 7.5 miles / 12.7 km | Moderate route

This one is more for long-distance walkers. If you check the tide time when you get to Cleveland Way (the cliff path), you can walk along the beach below the cliff.
If you walk up the coast, you’ll reach Whitby in about an hour, whereas walking down the coast will bring you to the pretty village of Ravenscar.
The Robin Hood’s Bay to Ravenscar loop is very popular because it includes the coastal areas and the moorlands.
With a few ups and downs and a steep climb at the end (from Baytown back up to Robin Hood’s Bay), it is given a ‘moderate’ rating, so you will benefit from a decent fitness level.
Follow the route here.
North York Moors National Park to Lealholm circular
Takes 5 hours | 7.5 miles / 12.7 km | Moderate route

All of the Whitby walks take place in the area known as the North York Moors; however, if you fancy going a bit further inland, you’ll be able to take advantage of the true moorland walks in the main National Park area.
There are probably more walking routes documented for the park area than you could ever complete, so it’s just a matter of choosing the ones you want to do.
One we love is a circular walk from Lealholm that takes in three Dales in the North York Moors. This Walk takes in the stunning scenery of Glaisdale, Great Fryup Dale, and Eskdale.
Follow the full route here.
Other Whitby Walks for you to enjoy
Whitby Ghost Walk

We round off our walks around Whitby with a local classic. The Whitby Ghost Walk is a 75-minute wander around Whitby’s iconic old town taking in the sights, sounds and smells of historic Whitby. Led by award-winning storyteller, Rose Rylands, the Whitby Ghost Walk is not to be missed.
The walk tells the story of the town’s maritime history, with sailors and shipwrecks, mystery and ghost stories from around the town. Learn about the myth of the Lykke Walk Way and how the Dracula came to find his home in the grounds of St Mary’s Churchyard.
Whitby Ghost Walk is by private booking only. Groups benefit from a generous discount and schools are welcome to discuss timetable guided walks for children. The walk begins at the top of the 199 steps outside St Mary’s Church.
For those seeking a turn-up and walk experience the Ghost Walk around Robin Hood’s Bay is a great weekly walk that starts outside the RNLI building at the main gangway to the sea.
Both are highly recommended activities on your visit to Whitby. Learn more about Rose and her award-winning walks at The Whitby Storyteller.
So, if you’re considering visiting Whitby soon, don’t rule out getting out in the fresh air and discovering the town and its surrounding areas.
Have we missed any Whitby walks off our list? Let us know in the comments below.
Staying in Whitby 12/17 June. six adults and FIVE dogs!! So walks are an essential part of our day. I’ve noted five of the walks recommended preferably with refreshment available. Looking forward to it. Terry
I did the Whitby to Robin Hoods Bay walk the other day along the Cleveland trail, and that was anything but easy. 7 miles of slippery muddy paths that aren’t easy for walking. If the ground is dry then it’s a lovely walk, with some spectacular views. But if the ground is wet then that walk is a complete nightmare.