George Wilkinson braves the fallen trees along the Cleveland Way.

GUISBOROUGH'S long-stay car park is called Walkers Row which was a good omen, but the weather was not. By the time we had left the town, it was obvious we were in for a rough ride as the turbulent low cloud blunted the spikes of the conifers topping Guisborough Wood.

A Forest Enterprise sign warned of tree felling, and also informed that the woods are open access. We amended our plans, avoided a churned-up track and found a pleasant path straight up the hillside. The new plan was get up fast, zoom along the Cleveland Way and get down quick.

The ascent was in the half light of forest drizzle; the soundscape built up with every contour line until by the time we reached the wide track of the Cleveland Way we were a trifle nervous.

Here the tree felling was courtesy of nature. The larch bare of leaves were weathering the storm, while the more rigid pines, heavy with leaves, were suffering. Many were snapped off, some were ripped with their root plates from the ground.

So our planned plain sailing was instead a slow and tricky bypassing of the dozens of pines laid on the track. You can't pick your way through the dense branches.

There were no views north to be had in cloudland, wildlife was in hiding bar a pair of bright jays. As for walkers, none were expected but along came an unlikely pair of lads who claimed with a smile to be 'looking for next year's Christmas tree', and then a pair of proper walkers.

We didn't hang around for sandwiches in the dread zone. Falling trees don't come down slow and graceful but crash very fast, and there's no time to jump out of the way.

So it was a relief to emerge from the woods and hit a clean, quick drive down to the crops and hedges of the last mile.

Think like a monk as you tramp the path of Cleveland Street towards the late 13th century arch of Guisborough Priory. As you stroll the flagstone into town, note the late 19th century grammar school, which was designed by Sir Alfred Waterhouse, who did the Natural History Museum.

Directions

When in doubt, look at the map. Check your position at each point. Keep straight on unless otherwise directed.

1. From Long Stay Car Park, left to road, right at T-junction, Cross in Guisborough, cross road, pass Seven Stars Inn to your right, 200 yards, cross road at traffic lights to Belmangate, ignore right turn after which road is a dead-end, track, sunken path uphill.

2. Enter wood, path straight uphill for 300 yards, right to main track, 30 yards.

3. Left and south up bank to path uphill, not the track ten yards before it, no sign.

4. Right at junction to main track, 25 yards, left uphill on track (Cleveland Way signs).

After about a mile of contouring, take middle of three paths at junction (approx 1 o'clock, CW fingerpost and low stone post with CW symbol and yellow circle).

5. Immediately after sharp right-hand bend, where path leaves wall to left, left at T-junction and downhill (CW fingerpost). After passing fields to your right, stile on right (CW sign and waymark) and immediately left to path.

6. Stile (CW fingerpost) and left downhill on concrete track between woods then fields.

7. After cottage, stile on left at field corner (signed Cleveland Street) to field-edge path, hedge on right then on left to double-hedged path, cross pasture, three stiles, join drive.

8. Cross main road, left on pavement, 100 yards, snickelgate on right, tarmac path through fields to Guisborough.

Fact file

aDistance: Five miles.

Time: Two or three hours.

General location: Near Middlesbrough.

Start: Guisborough.

Right of way: The complete route is along public rights of way.

Date walked: Friday January 28, 2005.

Road route: From York, A19, A172, A173.

Car parking: Walkers Row Long Stay, signed.

Lavatories: At short stay car park.

Refreshments: Inns and cafs.

Tourist & public transport information: Guisborough TIC 01287 633801.

Map: Based on OS Explorer OL26 North York Moors western area.

Terrain: Forest hillside.

Points of interest: Guisborough Market Days are Thursday and Saturday.

Difficulty: Steepish little climb.

Please observe the Country Code and park sensibly. While every effort is made to provide accurate information, walkers set out at their own risk.

Click here to view a map of the walk

Updated: 11:24 Saturday, February 19, 2005