Roseberry Topping

Where it is and how to get there

The hill stands beside the A173 between Guisborough and Great Ayton, about a mile from Great Ayton village. The main start is the pay-and-display car park at Newton under Roseberry (postcode TS9 6QR), which is run by the North York Moors National Park Authority; the National Trust confirms the charge applies to its members too. There are toilets in the car park, including an accessible toilet, open daily from April to October and at weekends from November to March. A second car park sits at Gribdale Gate, between the hill and Captain Cook's Monument, which suits the longer route from that side.

By bus, the National Trust lists the Hodgsons service 18 between Stokesley and Guisborough for Newton under Roseberry, with Arriva 81a and the seasonal Moorsbus M2 also serving the village. Great Ayton has a station on the Esk Valley line between Middlesbrough and Whitby, about a mile and a half from the car park. Bus and train times change, so check before you travel; our car-free guide covers the wider picture.

Roseberry Common and Newton Wood

Walks usually start from the public car park in Newton-under-Roseberry. Newton Wood covers the lower slopes with old oak and ash trees. On Roseberry Common, rowan and hawthorn berries draw fieldfares and redwings in winter. Nearby Cliff Rigg Quarry exposes the Cleveland Dyke and is a Site of Special Scientific Interest.

The National Trust describes the climb as short but steep, roughly 30 minutes to an hour. Allow for the descent as well as the climb.

Why it has its shape

Roseberry Topping is built from layers of sandstone, ironstone and mudstone, with a hard sandstone cap at the top. Wind, rain and ice wore away the softer rocks of the surrounding hills, but the cap protected Roseberry, leaving its smooth sides and conical top. Until 1912 the summit resembled a sugarloaf. That year part of it collapsed, leaving the jagged face seen today. According to the Cleveland and Teesside Local History Society, the collapse followed a geological fault. It was probably made worse by ironstone mining beneath the hill. The society records the old name Othenesberg, from Old Norse, as the source of the name Roseberry.

Routes up

The simplest option is the direct there-and-back from the Newton under Roseberry car park: a little over a mile in total, straight up the stepped path to the summit. The National Trust describes it as short but steep, taking between 30 minutes and an hour each way, within the ability of anyone with a basic level of fitness. The summit path is rocky in places.

From Gribdale Gate a longer route crosses to the hill from the east, and it combines naturally with Captain Cook's Monument on Easby Moor. The National Trust's published walk from Great Ayton over the monument and the summit runs 7.2 miles (11.5 km) and takes three to four hours, graded challenging with steep climbs, steps and stiles. Shorter circulars from the car park of around five miles loop through Newton Wood and out onto Newton Moor. Paths are well signed but can be very muddy after rain, and the descent from the summit is down steep stone steps.

What you will see

The summit gives a wide view over the Cleveland plain and Teesside, along the northern escarpment of the moors and the Cleveland Hills, and towards the coast. On a clear day the Pennines are visible to the west. Back at ground level, the National Trust describes centuries-old oak and ash in the woodland around the lower slopes, with wildflowers in spring. The Trust also points out the remains of a narrow-gauge railway that once linked Cliff Rigg Quarry to the mainline, and the old quarry workings themselves.

Nearby

The tall obelisk on Easby Moor is Captain Cook's Monument, raised in 1827 in memory of Captain James Cook, who spent his boyhood in nearby Great Ayton. He went to school there, and the Captain Cook Schoolroom Museum in the village tells that story. The monument makes a natural turning point on the longer circular, with views of its own back to the Topping.

Practicalities

Spring brings wildflowers in the woods, and a clear day at any time of year gives the best of the view. The hill is exposed on top. Take layers whatever the season and check our weather page before setting off. The summit area is steep, loose underfoot in places and slippery when wet, with steep drops near the top, so wear proper boots. The National Trust welcomes dogs in all areas, on a short lead around livestock and on a lead near the summit for their safety. The paths are uneven, steep and muddy in places. The National Trust says the walk is not suitable for wheelchairs or pushchairs. The accessible toilet is in the car park.

Make a day of it

Roseberry Topping sits in the north-western corner of the park, good walking country in its own right, close to Great Ayton, the Cleveland Hills and the Cleveland Way. If you are collecting the park's great natural landmarks, pair it in spirit with the Hole of Horcum at the southern end, or browse more walks in the North York Moors.

Roseberry Topping walk FAQs

How high is Roseberry Topping?

320 m (1,049 ft), the height published by the National Trust.

How long does it take to walk up Roseberry Topping?

The National Trust puts the short, steep climb from the Newton under Roseberry car park at between 30 minutes and an hour each way. Longer circular routes take two to four hours.

Where do you park for Roseberry Topping?

The main car park is at Newton under Roseberry on the A173 (postcode TS9 6QR), run by the North York Moors National Park Authority with a pay-and-display charge that also applies to National Trust members. There is a second car park at Gribdale Gate between the hill and Captain Cook's Monument.

Why is Roseberry Topping that shape?

A hard sandstone cap protected the hill while the softer rocks around it eroded, and a summit collapse in 1912 left the jagged face. According to the Cleveland and Teesside Local History Society, the collapse followed a geological fault and was probably made worse by ironstone mining beneath the hill.

Can you take dogs up Roseberry Topping?

Yes. The National Trust welcomes dogs in all areas but asks for a short lead around livestock and a lead near the summit for the dog's safety, because of the steep drops.

Is Roseberry Topping in the North York Moors?

Yes. It stands on the north-western edge of the North York Moors National Park, above the Cleveland plain near Great Ayton and Newton under Roseberry.

Where to stay

For a base on this side of the moors, see where to stay in the North York Moors.