Hinderwell

Before you go: the practical facts

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Parking

we have not found an official public car park in Hinderwell. Park considerately on the street, or use the council car parks at Staithes or Runswick Bay and walk in along the Cleveland Way. See /plan/parking.

Toilets

none listed in the village. The nearest we can confirm are at the Staithes Bank Top car park.

Post office and cash

a mobile Post Office visits Hinderwell Village Hall car park on Runswick Lane (TS13 5HP) on Monday and Wednesday lunchtimes, for under an hour each time, with cash withdrawals.

Buses

the Arriva X4 between Whitby and Middlesbrough stops in the village and at Port Mulgrave, roughly every half hour in the daytime.

Railway

no station. Whitby is the nearest, and the X4 also reaches Saltburn.

Dogs

welcome on the Cleveland Way, but keep them on a short lead: the clifftop is unfenced with a steep drop.

St Hilda's Church and the holy well

St Hilda's Church sits at the north western end of the village, where Rosedale Lane heads off towards Port Mulgrave. The well in its churchyard is a scheduled monument. Historic England records that the name Hinderwell comes from the Old English Hildewella, "Hild's well", after the saint who founded the monastery at Whitby in 657. The well head was restored in 1912. The village is in the Domesday Book, and its main street still follows the line shown on the 1857 Ordnance Survey map.

Port Mulgrave

follow Rosedale Lane to its end and you reach the clifftop row of former miners' cottages at Port Mulgrave. Ironstone mining transformed this coast in the 19th century, and the harbour below was built in the 1850s, with ships carrying ore to the Tyne. Trade faded by around 1920, and little of the harbour now remains, leaving a quiet cove below the cliffs. The old path down to the cove is steep and unmaintained, and the Coastguard has warned against using it; the view from the clifftop is the safe way to see the harbour.

Walks

the National Trail's Staithes and Port Mulgrave circular is 4 miles, about two and a half hours, from Staithes car park. It follows the Cleveland Way clifftop to Port Mulgrave, then returns inland via Dalehouse. It crosses the busy A174 twice and has steps, stiles and grazing livestock in places. Walking south instead, the Cleveland Way takes you on to Runswick Bay.

Where to eat and drink

The Badger Hounds, 39 High Street (TS13 5JX): the village pub, open evenings from Monday to Saturday and from noon on Sunday, with food on Tuesday to Saturday evenings and Sunday afternoon and no food on Monday. Dogs are allowed in the bar and lounge, not the restaurant. Check before you go. For more choice, Staithes and Runswick Bay are each a short drive or bus ride away.

Nearby

• Staithes
• Runswick Bay
• Sandsend
• Whitby
• Parking guide

Hinderwell FAQs

Where is Hinderwell?

On the A174 between Whitby and Staithes, a mile south east of Staithes, inside the North York Moors National Park.

How did Hinderwell get its name?

From Hildewella, "Hild's well", after St Hilda of Whitby. The holy well is in St Hilda's churchyard.

Can you get down to the beach at Port Mulgrave?

The old path down is steep and unmaintained, and the Coastguard has advised against it. Enjoy the view from the clifftop at the end of Rosedale Lane.

Is there a bus to Hinderwell?

Yes, the Arriva X4 between Whitby and Middlesbrough stops in the village and at Port Mulgrave.

Is there a pub in Hinderwell?

Yes, the Badger Hounds on the High Street.

Sources checked 29 October 2026: Historic England list entry 1019161; North York Moors National Park, Hinderwell settlement study (2021); National Trail, Staithes and Port Mulgrave walk; Northern Mine Research Society; Post Office branch finder; bustimes.org X4; the Badger Hounds listing.