Reminders of East Cleveland’s ironstone mining era feature on this route that also offers fine views of coast and countryside on either side of Errington Wood between New Marske and Upleatham
Starting from St Thomas’ Church on Gurney Street at New Marske, we walk in an easterly direction to pass the Jubilee Hall and opposite New Marske Methodist Church we turn right into Pontac Road.
As the roadway runs uphill there is a soccer pitch on our left with a line of properties on our right hand side.
Crow’s Nest has a plaque with information about “The black lonnen” - the route of the first railway line to nearby ironstone mines. Continuing ahead we make our way into Errington Wood and turn right along the main track with brickwork from mine buildings covering ground on our left.
We follow the main path up the slope through the wood with a pond and carved wooden heron on our left and then make our way along the lower pathway.
An uphill slope then takes us past a car park, above on our right, to reach a junction of routes.
At this point we turn left to walk up the slope and at the crossroads of routes we bear right towards Upleatham.
There are fine views away to our right towards Guisborough with woodland covering ground on our left.
Our pathway then runs up a gully to a wooden gate in the stone wall and as we continue uphill there is a fence on our right hand side.
An area of woodland spreads alongside ground on our right and after passing through a wooden gate there is a wall on our right and fence on our left hand side.
At the next junction of routes we turn right through a wooden gate to make our way down a stony track.
We soon pass large sheds on our left and beyond the next gate we follow a brick wall round to the left into Upleatham.
The Well House is prominent on our right and the former Wesleyan Chapel (1862) and then School House cover ground on the right hand side.
The former St Andrew’s Church, which was converted from a place of worship to a family home in the early 1990s, building dominates the left side of the roadway and at the end of the village, Quarry Lane becomes a track.
Continuing ahead, there are views of Skelton and Brotton before we pass a wooded area on our right. After an area with green open fields on both sides we reach woodland on both sides and follow the sloping track downhill as far as a woodland route on our left.
We walk ahead through the Marske Banks Plantation and at the next junction of routes turn right to make our way down the slope and along Pontac Road.
There are fine views of Marske and Redcar as we return to our starting point in New Marske.
LOCATION: New Marske is 1½ miles south-west of Marske via Longbeck Road
START: St Thomas’ Church, New Marske
DISTANCE: 5 miles
GOING: Tracks and field paths with some roadside pavements. Moderate inclines
MAP: Ordnance Survey Explorer OL26 North York Moors Western Area
REFRESHMENTS: Choice of venues in New Marske or Marske
DOGS: Under proper control
WHEELCHAIR ACCESS: Not suitable
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