New walking boots for Middlesbrough

/ Dee and Steve

Monday 3rd November 2026

Yesterday we made the long drive up to Yorkshire for some more coastal path adventures and a week’s house-sit in Maske-by-the-Sea. We get to care for a delightful little cat called Sheldon and stay in a very cosy bungalow while the house owner is away working in Morocco. We’re aiming to complete a 65 mile section to close a gap we have between Middlesbrough and Scarborough, so we’ll be busy rambling over the next few days. Makes a change!!

Last time we were up in these parts we finished our walk in the Port Clarence area of Middlesbrough so by bus and train we found our way there to start off today’s mission, which was basically walking through this town, up one side of the estuary and down the other, finishing in Southbank. It’s hard to believe it’s the England Coast Path as we saw minimal water – it was just one of those ‘get it done’ sort of days. Nothing scenic unless industrial areas float your boat. But we’re more than going to make up for that over the next few days as we have the delights of Saltburn, Staithes, Whitby, Robin Hood’s Bay and Scarborough to look forward to.

The first 3 miles were the most grim in terms of industry/heavily trafficked road walking. After that there were some more pleasant paths alongside the estuary for a while, then through parts of “Boro” (as locally named) and onto the Teesdale Way, a narrow path alongside the railway line, which brought us to today’s destination – the ‘Southbank’ area of Middlesbrough. We walked just over 8.5 miles, a little less than we’d estimated so win, win!

While we were in the town it was interesting to once again see the Transporter Bridge, a famous Grade II listed engineering landmark, opened in 1911. Although it is now closed it is still such an iconic sight.

The surviving southern brick wall of the former Cleveland Salt Works

This clock tower only has clocks on 3 faces – the side facing the old dock works was left blank to stop the workers clock-watching!

Of course Steve had to pay homage to the Football Stadium

Walking alongisde the estuary for a while – several traveller horses tied up along the way.

It really WAS coastal path – here are the signs to prove it.

The narrow Teesdale Way which led us the final few miles to Southbank

Joyful to be out walking in the Autumn colours

And today it was time to break in my new walking boots – they looked so clean when I started, not so much when I finished!

And home to Sheldon

When we got to Southbank, our plan to get the train back was thwarted as the station was closed. We treated ourselves to an Uber and the driver informed us that we should never go to this area at night – there are frequent stabbings and other troubles. Looking forward to picking up our walk there tomorrow morning!!

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