View source for Cleveland Way

[[File:Cleveland Way at Live Moor.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Live Moor on the Cleveland Way]]
{{county|Yorkshire}}
The '''Cleveland Way''' is a national trail up and over the [[Cleveland Hills]] in the [[North Riding of Yorkshire|North Riding]] of [[Yorkshire]]. It runs 110&nbsp;miles from [[Helmsley]], deep inland in [[Ryedale]], to the [[Filey Brigg|Brigg]] at [[Filey]] on the [[North Sea]] coast, skirting the [[North York Moors]] National Park.

==History==
Development of the Cleveland Way began in the 1930s when the Tees-side Ramblers' Association pressed for the creation of a long distance path in the north-east of Yorkshire linking the Hambleton Drove Road, the Cleveland escarpment and footpaths on the Yorkshire coast. In 1953 the National Parks Commission took the matter up formally.  The trail was officially opened in 1969. It was the second official 'National Trail' in the United Kingdom.<ref>[http://www.nationaltrail.co.uk/ClevelandWay/text.asp?PageId=2 About this Trail - Cleveland Way - National Trails]</ref>

==Route==
The trail can be walked in either direction, from either of the trailheads, which are at [[Helmsley]] ({{map|SE6125183849}}) and [[Filey]] ({{map|TA1155480742}}).  The trail runs in a horseshoe configuration between them. It is waymarked along its length using the standard National Trail acorn symbol.<ref>[http://www.nationaltrail.co.uk/ClevelandWay/text.asp?PageId=47 Nationaltrail.co.uk]</ref>

The trail falls into two roughly equal sections.  The inland section leads west from Helmsley, then north, then east around the west of the North York Moors National Park.  It then leaves the National Park near [[Guisborough]] to meet the coast at [[Saltburn-by-the-Sea]]. It re-enters the National Park just north of [[Staithes]].  The coastal section follows the coast from Saltburn to [[Whitby]], then leaves the National Park for the final time at Cloughton Wyke to reach [[Scarborough]] and Filey.

==Geology and biology==
===Flora and fauna===
The moorland sections of the trail provide a habitat for species including red grouse, curlews and Emperor moth caterpillars. The coastal sections may provide sightings of sea birds such as Great cormorants, Shags, Puffins, Guillemots and Seagulls.<ref>[http://www.nationaltrail.co.uk/ClevelandWay/text.asp?PageId=42 Wildlife - Cleveland Way - National Trails<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>

==Connecting trails==
[[File:Gristhorpe Cliff Tops on the Cleveland Way.jpg|right|thumb|200px|Gristhorpe]]
The Cleveland Way connects with various other long distance footpaths.  Listed in order from Helmsley to Filey, there are:

*The [[Ebor Way]], from [[Ilkley]] (where it connects with the [[Dales Way]]) to Helmsley.
*The [[White Rose Walk]] from [[Kilburn White Horse]] to [[Roseberry Topping]] (and following the coastal section)
*The [[North Sea Trail]], which follows the whole coastal section of the Cleveland Way
*The [[Esk Valley Walk]] from [[Castleton, Yorkshire|Castleton]] to end at [[Whitby]].
*The [[Coast to Coast Walk]] which starts or ends at [[Robin Hood's Bay]]
*The [[Lyke Wake Walk]] crossing the moors from [[Osmotherley, Yorkshire|Osmotherley]] to [[Ravenscar]].
*The [[Tabular Hills Walk]], a route developed by National Park Authority, linking the two southerly ends of the Cleveland Way and enabling walkers to walk the complete perimeter of the North York Moors National Park.
*The [[Yorkshire Wolds Way]] from Filey to [[Hessle]], near [[Kingston upon Hull]], where it connects with the [[Trans Pennine Trail]].

==Circular walks==
Published circular walks along the Cleveland Way include:
*[http://www.nationaltrail.co.uk/ClevelandWay/uploads/Ravenscar%20Round%20.pdf Ravenscar Round]
*[http://www.nationaltrail.co.uk/ClevelandWay/uploads/Great_Ayton.pdf Great Ayton Try a Trail]

==Outside links==
{{Commons}}

*[http://www.nationaltrail.co.uk/cleveland-way/ The Cleveland Way]
*[http://www.aboutbritain.com/articles/cleveland-way-national-trail.asp Description of the trail at AboutBritain.com]

==References==
{{reflist|1}}

{{UK Trails}}

[[Category:Footpaths in Yorkshire]]