Popular Dog Walks Near Whitby

With a great selection of dog friendly holiday cottages in Whitby, we thought it would be helpful to list a few of our favourite dog walks in and around the Whitby area.

Beck Hole
Beck Hole, a 20 minute drive from Whitby has a short, circular and mainly flat walk of around 30 minutes, starting and ending at the Birch Hall Inn where you can enjoy a well-earned drink. A path joins the riverbank where along the way you will discover remains of mine workers’ cottages and may be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of the steam train on its way between Grosmont and Pickering as well as herons and dippers in the water and if you’re lucky, deer grazing in the fields. There is also a Wheelchair friendly route from Beck Hole to Esk Valley.

Whitby to Sandsend

4 mile stretch (there and back) from Whitby beach chalets, along Upgang Beach to Sandsend beach.
Type: Sand.
Lifeguard: Patrolled in season.
Facilities: Plenty of cafes and stunning views en route. Public toilets available in Whitby and Sandsend.
Seasonal Restrictions: Dogs are not allowed from the West Pier to the East side of the beach steps (next to the Western end of the beach chalets) from the beginning of May to the end of September. Signs and pavement stencils, identifying restricted areas displayed.

Whitby to Robin Hood’s Bay Coastal Walk

This is one of the most renowned coastal walks in England. This 7 mile walk takes in some spectacular cliffs and scenery. The walk starts from Whitby centre and takes you through the old part of town on the east side of the river and then along the cliff edge that offers the most stunning views out to sea and along the coast. It’s no surprise therefore that this is part of the Cleveland Way long distance trail, and also the final stage of Alfred Wainwright’s famous Coast-to-Coast walk. The route continues passed an uphill waterfall, where the descending water is caught by the wind and ends up being blown back up the hill. As you approach the end of the walk you are greeted by views of the old part of Robin Hood’s Bay at the bottom of the hill, a picture-postcard coastal village, with the usual supply of small tourist shops and cafes to replenish you. There are regular buses back to Whitby, with even a roughly hourly service on Sunday.

Goathland Moors & Waterfalls

A 20 minute drive from Whitby. Parking can be found near the Mallyan Spout Hotel where a six-mile circuit begins, there is also a public car park and toilets in the centre of the village. The circuit crosses fields and open moorland offering spectacular views. Call in at Goathland Railway Station, famous from its frequent appearances on the TV series Heartbeat; sit and soak up the surroundings. Enjoy the delights of trickling streams and the stunning waterfalls of Water Arc Foss and the 60ft drop of Mallyan Spout. From here you can pass through the cool shade of Scar Wood and back into the village for a nice cuppa at the Tea Room or a cooling beer at the village pub.

Grosmont

A lovely circular walk of just under 5 miles from Grosmont that starts with a shady woodland stroll through Doctor’s Wood and Crag Cliff Wood. Halfway point is the charming riverside hamlet of Beck Hole, before returning alongside the tumbling waters of the Murk Esk, following the line of the original Whitby to Pickering railway – now preserved as ‘The Rail Trail’ (between Goathland, Beck Hole and Grosmont). Grosmont itself was transformed by the railway, and steam trains are still seen here on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway. There is a National Park car park to leave your car but as the Esk Valley Railway also calls at Grosmont, this is a walk you can access without a car from Whitby. Refreshments can be found in both Grosmont and Beck Hole.