Roseberry Topping Circular Walk

This circular walk climbs to the summit of Roseberry Topping, one of the most distinctive hills in North Yorkshire, located near Guisborough on the western edge of the North York Moors National Park. Despite being only around 2 miles in length, the route involves a fairly steep ascent and rewards walkers with expansive views across the Cleveland Plain, the North York Moors and, on clear days, the Pennines.... The hill’s recognisable half-cone shape and jagged summit cliff have often been compared to the Matterhorn, making it one of the most photographed landmarks in the region.
Roseberry Topping is managed by the National Trust, and the paths are well maintained, though the climb can be strenuous in places. The walk usually begins from the car park just west of the hill, following Roseberry Lane before entering Newton Wood. This woodland section provides shelter and contrast to the open hillside, particularly in spring when bluebells carpet the forest floor. As the route climbs through Roseberry Common, the landscape opens out, with wide grassy slopes and increasingly impressive views as you approach the summit.
At the top, the trig point and rocky outcrop mark the summit, where there are far-reaching panoramas across Teesside, the Cleveland Hills and deep into the North York Moors. The descent returns towards Newton Wood, offering another chance to enjoy the woodland setting. Wildlife is often seen along this stretch, with roe deer regularly spotted at quieter times of day and several species of woodpecker present in the trees.
For those looking to extend their walk, Roseberry Topping connects well with other routes in the area. You can join the Cleveland Way and head east towards the extensive trails of the Guisborough Forest and Walkway, or continue south to climb to Captain Cook's Monument for further elevated views across the moors and coastline.
Another nearby option is the climb at Eston, close to Middlesbrough. From Eston Nab, there are similarly wide-ranging views across the moorland and towards the coast, with the Cleveland Way linking the area through Hutton Lowcross Woods. Together, these walks make Roseberry Topping a key starting point for exploring this scenic and varied corner of North Yorkshire.
Postcode: TS9 6QR
Pubs and More Info
In Great Ayton the Royal Oak is a nice option for some post walk refreshments. This former coaching inn dates back to the 17th century and oozes charm and character. There's a cosy interior with original beams and log fires. You can find the pub on the High Street with a postcode of TS9 6BW.
You could also pay a visit to the Buck Hotel. The pub sits in a nice location on the banks of the river Leven. You can sit outside and enjoy nice views on a fine day. They have a very good menu and good selection of ales too. You can find the pub at 1 West Terrace with a postcode of TS9 6PA for your sat navs.
If you'd like to come by public transport then Great Ayton rail station is located about a mile south of the hill. You can follow public footpaths north from here to take you up to the summit on an alternative route. The station is on the Esk Valley Line which runs from Middlesbrough to Whitby.
For a longer, more challenging route try our Cleveland Way Circular Walk from Great Ayton. This starts from the village and uses a section of the National Trail to take you to the hill and Captain Cook's Monument.
Head a couple of miles north east into the town of Guisborough and you could pay a visit to Gisborough Priory. The Augustinian priory has a facinating history dating back to the 12th century. You can enjoy a stroll around the atmospheric ruins where there is a distinctive arch, which is a well-known landmark used as a symbol for Guisborough. The site is run by English Heritage and is free to explore. You can find it in the attracive market town at Priory Grounds, Church Street at postcode TS14 6HG. The Cleveland Street Walk can also be picked up here.

To the south westthere's the fascinating ancient sites at the Lord Stones and the Wainstones. The climb to Carlton Bank near Carlton in Cleveland is also located in this area.

Ordnance Survey Map OpenStreetMap OS Map (Mobile GPS) OpenStreetMap (Mobile GPS)

Interactive Map

Route Video

Nearby Routes

Captain Cook's Monument Cleveland Way Guisborough Forest and Walkway Wainstones Cleveland Way Circular Walk - Great Ayton Kildale Waterfall Circular Walk

Photos

The path from Aireyholme Farm just enters the southeast corner of the gridsquare, hence this view of the unique hill which rises to 320m above Mean Sea Level.

Roseberry Topping. Looking north from Clay Bank. Spotlighted for a few brief seconds by the sun. One theory is that the topping owes its profile to a collapse of the west side during the nineteenth century because of iron ore mining. Captain Cooks monument on Easby Moor is also visible from here to the middle right of pic.

Newton under Roseberry from Roseberry Topping

Roseberry Topping In the background Captain Cooks monument is just about visible

Flank of Roseberry Topping. On the climb to the summit, this level ground provides a welcome opportunity to catch your breath. Showing the summerhouse and Newton Wood beyond.

 Summer House, Roseberry Topping. I caught this picture in the evening sunlight with the Cleveland Hill range in the background. There is some controversy about the function of this building it being referred to as a summerhouse, shooting box and folly.

Trig. Point, Roseberry Topping. With the sun shining on Middlesbrough in the distance.

The path up Roseberry Topping. The zig-zags stand out clearly. On top of the hill are members of a primary school trip from Leeds. A much better choice than going to Alton Towers!

Download GPX

Roseberry Topping.gpx