The Cleveland Way and the Yorkshire Wolds Way
The Cleveland Way and the Yorkshire Wolds Way
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Day 6 - Sherburn to Filey
Start: Sherburn, grid ref 958767
Finish: Filey Brigg, grid ref 126816
Distance: 23.5km (14.5 miles)
Maps: OS Landranger 101, OS Explorers 300 and 301
Terrain: Mostly gentle field paths, farm tracks and quiet roads, though there are some short, steep descents and ascents while crossing a few dales.
Refreshments: Ganton and Muston each have a single pub. Plenty of pubs, restaurants, cafés and takeaways around Filey.
Public Transport: Yorkshire Coastliner bus 845 links Ganton with Filey and Sherburn, on the way to York and Leeds. East Yorkshire bus 121 links Filey with Muston, as well as running all the way back to Hull. Arriva trains run from Filey to Scarborough and back to Hull.
The Wolds Way leaves Sherburn and stays fairly low on the slopes through Potter Brompton and Ganton, then climbs high and sails over the top of Staxton Wold. Several small grassy dales are crossed, or followed, before the route finally descends from the high ground. The little village of Muston is followed by the busy seaside resort of Filey, a place that hardly seems to have anything in common with the Yorkshire Wolds. Essentially the walk is over, and all that remains is the short stretch out onto the crumbling clay promontory of Filey Brigg. Technically the Wolds Way joins the Cleveland Way at a field boundary further along the coast, but Filey Brigg is a more significant point at which to finish. However, walkers who wish to keep going can follow the Cleveland Way along the coast to Scarborough, which is offered as an extra day’s walk, so that the route comfortably fills the week.
Walkers leaving Sherburn find themselves at a fork in the road. To the right is Whitegates, the road that was followed into the village the previous day. To follow every part of the Wolds Way walkers should go back up this road and turn left along a clear track. However, if they take the other fork they will rejoin the Wolds Way where the track reaches the road not far from High Mill. Either way, continue along the road up to another fork and turn left. Another left turn reveals a path running across a slope of grassy areas and patchy woodlands. Follow the route as signposted across the slope, sometimes without any views if the woods on either side are particularly dense. Turn right uphill later, then left at a small gate to walk back down a woodland path.
Emerging from the wood, walk down through fields and turn right, soon passing the end of a coniferous shelter belt. Continue along the track through the fields to reach some attractive buildings in the little farming hamlet of Potter Brompton. Turn right along a road, then almost immediately left along a clear track running alongside more fields at the foot of the slope. Turn left down a minor road, away from Ganton Hall and its extensive grounds. Turn right at a junction to walk alongside the village of Ganton, keeping right of St Nicholas’ Church and its 14th-century spire.
Ganton
Facilities at Ganton are limited to the Ganton Greyhound Inn down on the main road, offering food, drink and accommodation. Yorkshire Coastliner bus 843 on the main road links with Scarborough, Sherburn, Malton, York and Leeds, while Yorkshire Coastliner bus 845 links with Filey and Leeds.
Follow a field path straight away from St Nicholas’ Church and go through a gap in a shelter belt woodland. Turn right uphill until a left turn is marked alongside a field. This leads to a clear track called Wold Lane, which is followed to the right, straight uphill, narrowing as it approaches Binnington Brow. Turn left as marked at the corner of a field, then later turn right over a stile to walk alongside another field. Turn left again over another stile and walk alongside another field to reach the busy B1249 at Staxton Wold Farm. Cross over the road and continue straight onwards as signposted along a quiet minor road. This leads to the military installation of RAF Staxton Wold, where walkers turn right and pass alongside the security fence at 178m (504ft).
RAF Staxton Wold
This military installation seems incongruous in the peaceful wolds, but it is one of a number of early warning stations located throughout eastern England. It was built in 1939, just in time to monitor airborne activity during the Second World War. However, it was almost destroyed by the RAF themselves in 1942 when a Halifax bomber had to drop all its explosives near the site while executing an emergency landing because of a fire onboard. In the interests of security RAF Staxton Wold is not marked on any maps you can buy.
The road becomes a track as it leaves RAF Staxton Wold and drops down into a small wooded dale. Towards the bottom watch for a turning on the left, steeply uphill alongside a fence. The gradient eases as the fence leads onwards alongside fields. Turn right around a corner of the field then turn left to walk alongside another field. Drop down into a small grassy dale, climb up the other side, then cross a smaller dale. Cross the slopes of Flixton Wold and continue straight across larger Lang Dale. All these dales are likely to be used for sheep grazing, while all around are cultivated fields. Follow the line of a fence along the remains of an old hawthorn hedge to reach a minor road. Turn right to follow it over a rise above 150m (490ft).
Turn left to leave the road as signposted Wolds Way and walk along the brow of Raven Dale, following the line of a fence and ancient earthwork. There is a short, steep descent and re-ascent across the head of Camp Dale, closely following the fence. Note the scrub woodland on the left that fills the head of the dale. Turn right and right again, then left, to get round another little dale-head, then follow an uncultivated strip of grass between large fields high on Folkton Wold. When a fence is reached the Wolds Way is signposted down to the right, crossing the fence at a lower level. Walk down along the floor of the dale to reach some rumpled earthworks at a confluence of dales. These earthworks are known as the Camp.
Turn left to walk up through Stocking Dale, where patchy scrub woodland covers the valley sides. Keep to the grassy floor of the dale until the marked route leaves it, then turn right to walk alongside a belt of woodland planted on top of a linear earthwork. Turn left along an uncomfortably stony track to pass Stockendale Farm and reach a minor road at almost 130m (425ft).
Cross over the road and walk along a track beside a shelter belt woodland close to Muston Wold Farm. Bear right as marked later, across a field then over a stile and down alongside more fields. This is the final descent as the Yorkshire Wolds gradually peter out. There is barely a glimpse ahead to Filey, though the more distant Scarborough and Flamborough Head are clearly in view. The path seems to land in a bed of thistles at the bottom, but a stile nearby leads out onto the A1039. Turn right along the road to reach the village of Muston. Walk through the village along West Street to pass the Ship Inn, continuing along King Street to pass All Saints Church.
Muston
Facilities are limited in this pretty little village, though the Yorkshire Wolds Way is rapidly coming to a close. The Ship Inn offers food and drink. East Yorkshire bus 121 runs regularly and daily to and from Filey, Scarborough, Bridlington and Hull.
On the way out of Muston watch for a Wolds Way signpost on the left, indicating a short field path that leads from the A1039 to the busier A165. Cross over the road and continue along another field path, turning left later close to a school sports field. Turn right along a grassy track between the sports field and some houses to reach the A1039 again. Turn left to follow this road – called Muston Road – into Filey.
The course of the Wolds Way through Filey isn’t always clear, so keep an eye open for street names. Muston Road leads from the suburbs to a level crossing near the station where Station Avenue continues into town. Turn left along Union Street then right along Mitford Street. Turn left along Reynolds Street and right along Queen Street to reach the town council offices. Turn left along an alley that swings right and leads down a flight of steps to a toilet block. Across the road is the Coble Landing, where fishing boats are brought up from the beach (Coble is pronounced ‘cobble’).
Just inland from the Coble Landing walk up a zigzag path on a wooded slope and continue along the low, grassy cliff-top path. This passes above Filey Sailing Club, then a flight of steps leads into little Wool Dale and up the other side. Continue along the grassy cliff path through Filey Country Park and walk out onto the crest of Filey Brigg to enjoy the sea breeze. Nearby a stone sculpture carved with the names of highlights from both routes commemorates the Yorkshire Wolds Way and Cleveland Way. At some point you have to decide whether to walk back into Filey or continue along the Cleveland Way and head towards the North York Moors National Park.
Filey Brigg
The grassy top of Filey Brigg has been crumbling steadily over the centuries and will one day be gone, leaving only the hard calcareous gritstone bedrock beneath. A Roman signal station and 12th-century castle have already been lost as the clay cliffs gradually crumble, and walkers are now forbidden to continue along the badly worn clay ridge leading down to the rocky slabs of Brigg End. If you want to walk to the very end of the Brigg you should do it by walking along Filey Sands when the tide is out, but bear in mind that the rocks are covered in slippery seaweed and big waves break across them without warning. There is an emergency telephone for those who find themselves marooned out on the point or spot anyone in obvious difficulty or danger.Filey
Filey is a little fishing town that has turned its attention to tourism. On the Coble Landing fishing boats lie on trailers beside amusement arcades, as if the transition is not yet complete. The town is fairly small yet supports a good variety of services, whether walkers are at the end of the Yorkshire Wolds Way or about to begin the Cleveland Way.Facilities include a range of accommodation and a nearby campsite. There are banks with ATMs, a post office, toilets, plenty of pubs, restaurants, cafés and takeaways, as well as shops. The museum should be visited by anyone wanting a potted history of the town. There is a tourist information centre on John Street, tel 01723 518000. East Yorkshire bus 121 runs to Scarborough as well as back to Muston and distant Hull, and bus 120 also runs between Filey and Scarborough. Yorkshire Coastliner bus 845 links Filey with York and Leeds, passing the Wolds Way villages of Ganton, Sherburn and East and West Heslerton. Arriva trains run from Filey to Scarborough as well as back to Hull.
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