Captain Cooks Monument & Roseberry Topping circular walk

Sunday 19th March 2023

Walking Diary (All Walks) North Yorkshire & Co Durham North Yorkshire Moors

Captain Cooks Monument & Roseberry Topping circular walk.

Roseberry Topping and Captain Cooks Monument are always popular with locals for a nice stroll out in the countryside, it's rarely quiet and can also be very busy in the summer months. Roseberry Topping is a very distinctive hill in North Yorkshire, known and loved by all Teessiders ('The Teesside Matterhorn' as it's affectionately known as). It is situated near Great Ayton and Newton under Roseberry. Its summit has a distinctive half-cone shape with a jagged cliff, which understandably has led to many comparisons with the much higher Matterhorn in the Swiss-Italian Alps.

It's believed that due to a geological fault and ironstone mining underneath, a collapse occurred in 1912 which now gives the hill its dramatic profile.

I had a few hours spare this morning, so I decided to combine these two points of interest within a slightly longer circular walk which included the Newton and Great Ayton moors.

The information contained in the material on this Website is for information purposes only and does not constitute advice.
Distance: 7.6 miles
Duration: 3:00 hours
Ascent: 1591 ft
Difficulty: Moderate
Accompanied By: On my Own
Weather: Warm & Sunny

3D outline of route

Parking

The starting point for todays walk was Gribdale Gate - Captain Cooks Car Park on Dikes Lane just past Great Ayton railway station.

Heading off on the uphill path towards the Captain Cooks monument.

And there it is. A landmark for all to see across Teesside and much of North Yorkshire.

Captain Cook's Monument - a striking obelisk erected in 1827 in memory of Teessides famous explorer. He was born six miles away in Marton but grew up in Great Ayton - where I parked up earlier today. You can see this monument from many miles away and is a very noticable landmark. Captain Cook would have certainly walked these moors when he lived at Great Ayton from 1736-1745. The monument itself was built by Robert Campion, a wealthy banker from Whitby and owner of the Easby Manor estate and the plaque refers to his contribution.

Views over to the Cleveland Hills in the distance and the route of the Cleveland Way.

Heading down and into Coate Moor Forest.

Turning left at the lane as I leave the Cleveland Way for a while.

Views over to Lonsdale Farm and Plantation.

I remember this uphill track - It had huge wheel 'ruts' in it all the way up, going back over the years, it looks like there's been a lot of work done to make it more accessible with all that dolomite laid down - Well done!

Typical Moorland - North Yorkshire style.

As I head out on the edge of Great Ayton Moor, the prominent Highcliff Nab can be seen with the North Sea behind it in the distance.

Now heading into Newton Moor (not much change in scenery around here)

Or maybe there is, as Roseberry Topping appears.

A magnificent sight ahead, as the moorland disappears behind.

With a bit of a puff and a pant - the summit was soon reached.

Magnificent panoramic views all round - Here is a view in the direction of Great Ayton.

Plus an extremely busy summit trig point.

To mix things up a little, I headed down Roseberry topping by the southern path and then headed over towards Aireyholme Farm. The young James Cook lived there for nine years while his father was employed by the tenant farmer.

Some effort has been made to provide a path around the farm - the lack of signage at the farm itself gives you the impression that 'through' access is not permitted. So I followed the signs and the very well constructed diversion that led you around the farm buildings and yard to re-emerge onto the Aireyholme Lane.

Diversion.

and again ....

Back onto Aireyholme Lane as I head towards Dikes Lane.

A left turn to head up towards Gribdale.

The footpath takes you past the Gribdale Terrace which was built to house whinstone miners. The Gribdale whinstone mine ran just below the surface. A narrow-gauge tramway carried the whinstone down to Ayton Station, where it was shaped for road surfacing and taken away by rail.

Back at Gribdale Car Park - plenty more cars here now as the warm sun had really brought folk out today.