Cycling from Whitby to Scarborough, North Yorkshire
The Whitby to Scarborough cycle ride (21 miles one way) is ideal for leisurely cyclists or familes as the route is almost all traffic-free and along a disused railway line. It is an easy cycle and mostly flat though the section approaching Ravenscar is slightly uphill but nothing to worry about. Although this is a safe, traffic-free ride for the most part there are occasions when the route crosses a minor road and in Robin Hood's Bay and Ravenscar there is traffic so care should be taken, particularly with children. The highlights of the cycle are the fantastic coastal views you get along the route.
There are various options for cycling: starting in Whitby or Hawsker (2 miles out of Whitby and the start of the trail) and cycling to Robin Hood's Bay (4 miles from Hawsker), Ravenscar (8 miles from Hawsker) or Scarborough, depending on if you wish to do a round trip. If you wish to hire bikes, the best place to do this is from Trailways Cycle Hire in Hawsker.
If starting from the centre of Whitby, start from the Abbey, next to the youth hostel and follow the minor road which runs parallel to the coast until you reach Hawsker.
From Hawsker and the old railway station, join the cycle route which takes you along the coast to Robin Hood's Bay. This section is easy, flat and the surface is good. There are lovely, sweeping views of the sea and coastal along this part (providing there is no sea fog!). At Robin Hood's Bay you leave the track and can continue by cycling through the large car park ahead of you at the road junction, down the small hill, then right up the hill for a short distance then turn off left to rejoin the cycle route.
A brief visit to Robin Hood's Bay is highly recommended if you have time or at least cycle to the cliff by the smaller car park just above the town (to the left at the road junction) to admire the view of the beach and village of Robin Hood's Bay (toilets here). The hill down to the centre is very steep so probably not a good idea to cycle right down unless you're prepared to push your bikes back up!
Rejoin the cycle route to continue onto Ravenscar. This section also runs parallel to the coast and although fairly flat there is a gentle incline as you approach Ravenscar. When we did the ride in August 2008, one section was blocked due to a landslide so you may need to follow a short diversion). Ahead of you on the cliff top, you can see the Raven Hall Country House Hotel, and great views of the coast. There is a small shop where the trail meets the road, and also a cafe serving sandwiches and homemade cakes.
From here, either retrace your route or to continue onto Scarborough, near the cafe, rejoin the disused railway route, which remains flat and easy all the way to Scalby.
This must be one of the best traffic-free cycle routes in Britain. Having previously cycled the Camel Trail from Padstow, Cornwall, which was also enjoyable, I would say that the views offered on this Whitby to Scarborough cycle ride are even more spectacular and would highly recommend it.
This entry was posted on Sunday August 31st, 2008 at 8:34 AM and is filed under Places to Cycle. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response.
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1 Response to Cycling from Whitby to Scarborough, North Yorkshire
Rory Says:
October 20th, 2009 at 1:37 PM
I've done this ride and started it in Scalby, in fairness i found it a long hard slogg, as it all seemed a gentle up hill slope. I did manage to get lost around boggle hole which cost me some time but i think it took me around 2hrs there and around the same back.