Captain Cook's Monument and Roseberry Topping from Great Ayton

The walk starts at Great Ayton station and makes a circuit over two landmarks. Field paths and a track climb south-east to the forest edge on Easby Moor, where Captain Cook's Monument, an obelisk put up in 1827, stands on the open top. The Cleveland Way then runs north, down through the trees to Gribdale Gate and up onto Great Ayton Moor, and follows the moor edge to Newton Moor. It drops to a col and climbs the stone path to the summit of Roseberry Topping (320 m). The return goes down the south-west side of the hill to Aireyholme Farm, where Cook lived as a boy, and along Aireyholme Lane to the station.

It is 8.7 km with 359 m of ascent; allow about 3 hours. The grade is Moderate: there are two climbs, each short and steep, on good paths.

The Cleveland Way is signed with acorns and easy to follow. The National Trust warns of steep climbs and uneven, muddy paths on both hills, and of steps and stiles. Dogs should be on a short lead near livestock. Roseberry Topping also has a short walk of its own from Newton under Roseberry.

Great Ayton station is on the Esk Valley line between Middlesbrough and Whitby, and has a small free car park. There is also free roadside parking at Gribdale Gate, on the route.

Route drawn by Global Adventurer along OpenStreetMap paths (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), with figures worked out from it. Check the forecast and the ground on the day: paths change.