Roseberry Topping Walk best
Roseberry Topping is a distinctive and iconic landmark with a ‘fin’ like shape and is a very noticeable peak on the Cleveland Hills. It’s a brilliant destination for a walk for all ages.

The 3 best Roseberry Topping walking routes that you need to know about

Roseberry Topping is a well-known and much-loved popular walking destination for many people in the Teesside and North-Yorkshire area. You can see it from miles around which makes you just want to walk to the top of it. However there are multiple walking routes around Roseberry Topping, with some fantastic hidden views that many people do not know about when planning their Roseberry Topping walk. I live in the Teesside area and I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve walked to the top of Roseberry Topping – read on to discover my 3 favourite Roseberry Topping walking routes which are of varying distances and difficulty, but first here’s an FAQ on Rosebrry Topping:

Roseberry Topping FAQ

How high is Roseberry topping?

Roseberry Topping is 320m high (1,049ft) and whilst not the biggest hill you’ll ever see it’s a very distinctive local landmark that just needs to be tackled on a walk as it gives some of the best views in the area.

How long is the walk up to Roseberry Topping?

It depends on the walking route you take, with the shortest walk being 1.3 miles there and back and can be done in an hour. There are longer Roseberry Topping walking routes and multiple paths to the summit, and the 3 best routes in my humble opinion are featured on this blog post.

Is Roseberry Topping a difficult walk?

It’s quick to walk up to the summit of Roseberry Topping, but it does get steep in parts (whilst being perfectly safe). It is a great walk for all ages, from kids as young as 3 and for those with a reasonable level of fitness and mobility.

Where do you park to walk Roseberry Topping?

Roseberry Topping has its own car park nearby on the A173 maintained by the National Trust (Post code: TS9 6QS). It can get quite busy on weekends and will cost you a few quid to park. If this car park is busy – there’s another pay & display car park about 300 yards north up the A173 road past the King’s Head Inn (make sure you do purchase a parking ticket as the wardens are quite on the ball around these parts unfortunately).

Roseberry Topping walk best route view climb easy walking map
Read on to learn about the 3 best Roseberry Topping Walks!

#1. The quickest Roseberry Topping walk

 

This is the quickest and most direct way to tackle Roseberry Topping – which starts at the Roseberry Topping Public Car Park (TS9 6QS). It’s about 1.3 miles there and back and the total walk can be done in about an hour depending on your fitness and time at the top 🙂

 
Roseberry Topping walk best route view climb easy walking map
I do this route often with my young family and it only takes us about an hour in total. Ella & Charlie where both 4 when they first got to the top themselves so I’m sure most will be fine on this route:-) The walk starts off flattish up Roseberry Lane – where Roseberry Topping is in full view. This is the most direct route up to Roseberry Topping and the quickest Roseberry Topping walk. It’s pretty much ‘as the crow flies’ to the summit and the path just heads straight for the summit as depicted in this photo with some steps at various parts where you’ll get out of breath a touch but its nothing too strenuous.  

Roseberry Topping quick walk overview details:

WALK OVERVIEW:

WALK DISTANCE: 1.3 miles
WALK TIME: 1 hour
WALK DIFFICULTY: MODERATE/STEEP

 

Roseberry Topping walk best route view climb easy walking map

From the car park you had up the flat Roseberry Lane and then you’ll come to some steps and then it’s a bit of a steepish slog to the top. With 2/3 stops and a couple of benches on the way it’s fine for kids aged 4+ and will probs take you 30 mins or so to reach the top. There are some great views at the top and take some snacks and a drink for the summit to admire the views. We like to come down a different the path to the north of the summit which is steep also and grassy – but the kids find it funny as you can pick up some speed! You can of course just come back down the way you went up or extend your walk a touch and come down the east side. Whatever route you come back down its much quicker and easier. All in all you should be able to this full circular walk in about an hour. Click the button above to view the interactive map route. I really recommend the OS Map App which lets you download detailed routes to your phone.

 

 

#2. The stunning bluebell walk route through Newton Wood to Roseberry Topping

 

Roseberry Topping walk - Bluebells in Newton Wood
In May & June the view of Roseberry Topping from Newton Wood with Bluebells in the foreground is one of the most impressive sights in Northern England. I try and visit this specific location every May or early June time when the Bluebells are in full bloom. It’s a stunning sight and not to be missed if you are planning your Roseberry Topping walk in these months. See below for the specific location of the view in this photo and the full walking route is further down the page. 
 
Map showing my location to take the best picture of roseberry topping bluebells
This map shows the location (pink circle) within Newton Wood to get the best view of Roseberry Topping and the Bluebells. The map below will take you on a walk through Newton Wood and then to the summit of Roseberry Topping.
 
You’ll see plenty of Bluebells on this walk through Newton Wood if you do it in May/June when they are in full bloom.

Life Insurance

Roseberry Topping ‘Bluebell’ wood overview details:

WALK OVERVIEW:

WALK DISTANCE: 2.4 miles
WALK TIME: 1.5 hours
WALK DIFFICULTY: EASY

This Roseberry Topping walk starts again from the public Car Park (TS9 6QS) and again heads up Roseberry Lane, you then take a right into Newton Wood instead of heading straight to the summit and the walk goes in an anti-clockwise direction. Newton Wood is a nice little woodland walk at any time, which is made all the more special by the flowering Bluebells in May/early June.  This is a gentler way to walk up to the Roseberry Topping summit that isn’t as steep as the quick route above. This route is a much more varied walk and if you have the time – this is the best Roseberry Topping walking route that I would recommend. Click the button above to view the full interactive map (OS Maps subscription required to access all features)

 

#3. The best long Roseberry Topping circular walk from Great Ayton, via Captain Cooks Monument on the Cleveland Way

 

Roseberry topping walk best views great Ayton map route height how high parking
This view is probably my favourite view of Roseberry Topping in the whole area. It’s taken from just above the old quarry on Cockshaw Hill and isn’t far from Captain Cooks monument, but is a little off the the main walk path to Captain Cooks monument.

Life Insurance

Roseberry Topping walk via Captain Cooks Monument & Cockshaw Hill overview:

WALK OVERVIEW:

WALK DISTANCE: 6.7 miles
WALK TIME: 3.5 hours
WALK DIFFICULTY: MODERATE

 

Roseberry Topping Walk from Great Ayton best route Captain Cooks monument Cleveland way
If you’ve got time on your hands this 6.7 mile Roseberry Topping walk starts in Great Ayton and my prefered way is in a clockwise direction to Roseberry Topping first via Newton Wood (May is the ideal time to visit Newton Wood for the Bluebells) and then you get on the Cleveland Way and head south for Captain Cooks Monument. As the walk approaches captain Cooks Monument it takes a little 5 min detour to the side of Cockshaw Hill to see my favourite view of Roseberry Topping just above the old Cockshaw quarry as pictured right at the top of this page  (you can miss this detour out if you like) Once at Captain Cooks monument you then head back to Great Ayton via Ayton Banks wood. This is a long route with multiple paths junctions and I really recommend viewing the full interactive OS Map route via the button above to keep you on track (subscription required for all features)

This longer Roseberry Topping walk takes you through Newton Wood and if you do it in May time the Bluebells will be in full bloom

There are 3 main paths up to the summit of Roseberry Topping (from the North, East & South) On this walk you will tackle Roseberry Topping from the southern end. 
The views from the summit of Roseberry Topping are superb in all directions. In this photo you can see the route we will take along the Cleveland Way from the path on the left of the pic – all along the brow of the hill to Captain Cooks Monument on the far right (which you can just about make out above the tree covered slopes of Ayton Bank!) 
Roseberry Topping walk at sunset. From Cockshaw hill quarry, near Captain Cook's monument, teesside
On this walk route I’ve added a little 5 min detour to the viewpoint at Cockshaw Hill which is just near Captain Cooks monument and offers my favourite view of Roseberry Topping in the area. If you visit at the end of August/September the pink heather will be in full bloom. (You don’t necessarily have to do this longer walk route to visit this stunning viewpoint and you can just park at Gribdale Gate and walk 10 mins to it and then onto Captain Cooks monument) 
Captain cooks monument Roseberry Topping walk cleveland way
Captain Cooks monument makes a good point of interest to walk too along the Cleveland Way from Roseberry Topping and the views are pretty impressive up here too! Once up here you then have a nice walk back down to Great Ayton via Ayton Banks Wood.

 

And there you go – that’s my 3 best Roseberry Topping walks. They are all of varying distances and there is something for everyone there. I live in the area and I never tire of the views around this fantastic countryside. I often walk all over Northern England to the Lake District, Yorkshire & Northumberland – but return time and again to this lovely part of North-Yorkshire and its my go-to local area for walks. I hope the blog post helps you in planning a visit to the Roseberry Topping area!

BLOG POST BY STUART HODGSON

THE HIKING PHOTOGRAPHER

I hope you've found this info useful and it helps in planning your own adventures! I share my stuff simply to help others enjoy the great outdoors, see stunning scenery and reap the many physical & mental health benefits of being outside.

I also have an email newsletter I send every few months to share my latest walks, outdoor adventures, photos & other stuff if you are interested. Subscribe below:

FOLLOW ME

Not all my adventures & photos end up on this blog -
Give me a follow on social media to see what else I've been up to: 

I hope this website helps you plan some superb outdoors adventures! I'm probably preaching to the converted - but please respect the outdoors, don't trash it and leave only footprints.

I’m hopeful that being outdoors makes us appreciate the natural world more and want to look after it and live more sustainably. We’ve only got one planet on which we all rely on - and I think if we each can do our little bit, added together, it spreads like ripples through a pond, and changes the world.