Roseberry Topping – UK Hill Walks for Beginners

Dog friendly walk only one stile and that has a dog gate

The first part of the walk will take you along the high street, with small shops and cafes on your left and the river running along on the right. This is all paved until you turn onto Newton Road. When you see a small metal gate, this is the path so crossover and head through. The next mile can get very muddy, especially after rain so be prepared with your footwear and ensure you have good grip. The Salomon X ULTRA 4 MID GORE-TEX Hiking Shoes were a great option as I definitely benefited from some extra ankle support. Once you cross the train line, you begin uphill towards Cliff Ridge Wood. At the sign for Cliff Ridge wood, make a right turn and follow the bridleway into the woods, at a clearing 500m up, continue to follow the yellow arrows. You will start to leave the woods behind you and start to catch your first glimpses of the famous Roseberry Topping. The track will continue up to Ayton Banks Wood, it can get very muddy so I would recommend watching your footing on the many tree roots around. Having a light pair of boots definitely made this hill climb easier. Ayton Banks Wood can look intimidating with its tall trees, narrow paths and steep climb but at the top you will be rewarded with a view of Captain Cook's Monument. At the top of the plateau, you will have 360 views of the surrounding land and you’ll now join the famous Cleveland Way. This descent is a long gentle slope down to a carpark. There are lots of picnic benches here, so if you’re in need of a snack break, would recommend taking one here. The path continues up the other side, with a steep hill (50m) but when you reach the top, again you’ll be rewarded with some fantastic views of Roseberry Topping. The path is obvious and continues around and over a stile towards the hill. What goes down, must go up! You’ll clearly be able to see the path snakes down and then back up the side of Roseberry Topping. Getting a good pair of shoes or boots is recommended as although the path is paved, this means it can get slippery. Having footwear with good grip will make the hill a lot more enjoyable. The hill might be steep but the views at the top are incredible. There are numerous ways down the hill but we took the route less traveled by for a bit more of an adventure. Follow the main path down and then turn left at the stile instead of right, which is the main path. The route on the left is much quieter and takes you down back through the woods towards Great Ayton. This time it’s over the train line and a left straight away back through the fields. Once you are off the fields on the main road, you can head back to wherever you are parked or the station. Route: Circular 8-mile Loop connecting Great Ayton, Captain Cook’s Monument and the famous North Yorkshire hilltop Roseberry Topping. Parking: Great Ayton is a small town, there is a small car park on the high street but this often fills up early. There is ample parking around the river next to the Buck Hotel and Velveteen Rabbit Lunch Club