Walking from Sealark Cottage to Staithes
I have holidayed in the Hinderwell area since I was a young girl visiting my grandma who lived in the village. One of our favourite ways to explore the local area is to lace up our walking boots and explore all the stunning walks around Sealark Cottage. The area is home to a diverse mix of scenery – forests, meandering rivers, pretty villages, stunning coastal vistas, amazing pink and purple heather clad moors and dramatic dark skies.
Walking is our favourite way to explore the area. We can do the same walk in different seasons and in different weathers and the vistas will always look different.
One of our favourite walking routes goes directly from Sealark Cottage. You walk through nearby Port Mulgrave village and within 10 minutes you are on the Cleveland Way National Trail. From here you follow the coastal trail path all the way to Staithes. There are stunning coastal views on the way with an amazing panorama of Staithes just before you begin your descent into the village.
Dogs must be kept on a lead because the clifftop section is unfenced on the seaward side with a steep drop.
Once you arrive in Staithes you can have refreshments in the Cod and Lobster Pub which is right on the seafront or in quirky Dotty’s tea rooms.
In spring, the cliffs in Staithes are full of nesting gulls, so take the binoculars we provide in Sealark Cottage so you can observe them in more detail. When the birds are nesting, there is a raucous symphony of squawks and cries filling the atmosphere by the cliffs. You can learn more about the history of Staithes in the Staithes Museum. It is free to enter and has an interesting collection of photographs, objects, and stories relating to Staithes’ fishing and village life, from the days of sail through to the 20th century. You can also discover the famed British explorer Captain Cook’s connection to Staithes. Captain Cook worked in Staithes as a grocer's apprentice and it is where he first gained his passion for the sea, before later moving to Whitby and voyaging to the Pacific Ocean. There are also local crafters who sell handmade items from the museum.
You may already have taken a photograph of Staithes from the walk over before you begin your descent into the village. For a different view point, continue into the village, cross the bridge over the beck and then turn left up Cow Bar Bank and walk up the hill. On the left-hand side, you can get a great view overlooking Staithes from a different perspective.
On your return, it’s a steep climb from Staithes harbour up to the cliff top. You may wish to stop at The Old School Tea Rooms back in Hinderwell for coffee and delicious homemade cake on your return.