Yorkshire Moors

Walks

Whitby to Sandsend

By Jon Cosson · Updated 6 October 2026

The easiest good walk out of Whitby, and one of the best. About 6 miles there and back, west along the sands at low tide or the Cleveland Way on the cliff above them, tea at Sandsend, and back the other way. Flat, easy and lovely.

The coast at Sandsend, with the beach running away beneath green cliffs

Sandsend, the turning point of the walk and the reason to bring money for tea.

The walk at a glance

Distance
6 miles; About 6 miles there and back
Ascent
No published ascent figure. The beach line is flat; the Cleveland Way alternative climbs onto the cliff out of Whitby and drops back down into Sandsend
Time
About 2.5 to 3 hours for the full six miles, per The Whitby Guide
Difficulty
Easy, flat: west along the beach at low tide, or the Cleveland Way on the cliff, and back the other way
Start & parking
West Cliff car park, Pavilion Drive, Whitby (North Yorkshire Council); Whitby; 1 March to 31 October, 9am to 6pm: 1 hour £3.20, 2 hours £4.90, 6 hours £10.20, 24 hours £13.10; 439 spaces; nearest postcode YO21 3EG
Waymarking
The cliff-top alternative follows the Cleveland Way
Dogs
Excellent. The beach is the easiest going, though check the seasonal restrictions near the town end. Fresh water at Sandsend.
Toilets
At West Cliff car park
Café
Tea at Sandsend
Public transport
Arriva X4/X4A to Whitby. Check times before you travel.
Hazards
The beach route depends on the tide, so check the tide times before you set off
Sandsend parking
Sandsend car park, YO21 3TG, 1 March to 31 October, 9am to 6pm: charges run £3.20, £4.90, £6.40, £7.30 and £8.70 across the council's stay bands
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About this route

Route compiled from Ordnance Survey mapping and the published sources below. Parking, grid reference and transport details checked on 6 October 2026. If you walk it and find a change, use the contact page.

  • The Whitby Guide
  • National Trails
  • https://www.northyorks.gov.uk/roads-parking-and-travel/car-park-directory/car-park-directory/west-cliff-car-park-whitby

Distance notes: About 6 miles there and back.

Ascent: No published ascent figure. The beach line is flat; the Cleveland Way alternative climbs onto the cliff out of Whitby and drops back down into Sandsend.

Area map

Whitby area, not a precise trailhead. This map shows the area, not a verified route line.

The route in outline

Head west out of Whitby and you have two lines to choose from: the beach at low tide, or the Cleveland Way along the cliff. Both end at Sandsend, about three miles on, and the best version of the day is to take one out and the other back. Carry the OS sheet.

The tide matters

The beach route works at low tide. Check the tide times before you set off and give yourself room at both ends, because a rising tide against the cliffs is not the place to be improvising. If the tide is wrong, the cliff path is there and the walk is just as good.

Walking it with a dog

This is one of the better dog walks on the coast. The beach is the easiest going underfoot, though there are seasonal restrictions near the town end, so check those. There is fresh water at Sandsend. More on dogs across the park in our dog-friendly guide.

Making a day of it

Six miles, flat, with tea in the middle, leaves most of the day free. Pair it with the harbour, the abbey and the rest of Whitby, or save your legs for the longer cliff walk south to Robin Hood's Bay another day.

Whitby to Sandsend walk FAQs

How far is the Whitby to Sandsend walk?

About 6 miles there and back. It is flat, easy and one of the loveliest short walks on this stretch of coast.

Can you walk along the beach from Whitby to Sandsend?

Yes, at low tide. The alternative is the Cleveland Way along the cliff top, and the neat trick is to go out one way and come back the other.

Is the Whitby to Sandsend walk good with a dog?

Excellent. The beach is the easiest going, though check the seasonal restrictions near the town end, and there is fresh water at Sandsend.

What is there at Sandsend?

Tea, and a good reason to sit down before you turn round.

More North York Moors questions? See the full FAQ →

Stay on the coast

Whitby and Sandsend put this walk on your doorstep, either end of it.

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Top answers for the Yorkshire Moors

All questions in the full FAQ hub →

Quick, straight answers to the questions visitors ask most. Each one links through to the fuller guide.

Where are the best photography spots for sunrise and sunset?

Sutton Bank and the Kilburn White Horse for sunset over the Vale of York, the heather moors and the Hole of Horcum in late summer, Whitby Abbey and harbour, and Roseberry Topping at dawn.

Walks on the moors →

What are the Hole of Horcum, Roseberry Topping and the Cleveland Way?

The Hole of Horcum is a vast natural amphitheatre about 400 ft deep off the A169; Roseberry Topping is the distinctive 320 m "Yorkshire Matterhorn" near Great Ayton; the Cleveland Way is the 109-mile National Trail looping from Helmsley around the moors to the coast.

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Are the North York Moors good for walking, and where are the best walks?

Outstanding, over 1,400 miles of paths, from the 109-mile Cleveland Way (Helmsley to Filey) to countless short circuits. Classics include the Hole of Horcum, Roseberry Topping, Mallyan Spout at Goathland and the Helmsley–Rievaulx Abbey walk.

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What is the highest point in the North York Moors?

Round Hill on Urra Moor, at 454 metres (1,490 feet). It sits on the Cleveland Way and the Lyke Wake Walk above Bilsdale, and the usual approach is the roughly three-kilometre climb from the Clay Bank car park.

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What are the best viewpoints in the North York Moors?

Sutton Bank ("the finest view in England"), the Hole of Horcum, Roseberry Topping, the Blakey Ridge road across the high moor, and the cliff tops of the Cleveland Way on the coast.

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What are the best easy or family-friendly walks?

The Farndale daffodil walk (spring), the level paths around Sutton Bank and the Kilburn White Horse, the Goathland-to-Grosmont rail trail, and gentle riverside strolls at Thornton-le-Dale.

Walks on the moors →