Cleveland Hills
Encyclopedia
The Cleveland Hills are a range of hills on the north-west edge of the North York Moors
in North Yorkshire
, England
, overlooking Cleveland
and Teesside
. They lie entirely within the boundaries of the North York Moors National Park
. Part of the 110 miles (177 km) long Cleveland Way
National Trail runs along the hills, which is a part of Wainwright's
Coast to Coast Walk
. The hills, which rise abruptly from the flat Tees Valley
to the north, include distinctive landmarks such as the cone-shaped peak of Roseberry Topping
near the village of Great Ayton
—childhood home of Captain Cook.
Bilsdale West Moor, situated in the Cleveland Hills, is home to the Bilsdale transmitting station providing 40–50 miles coverage of UHF
transmissions for digital TV and radio in the north-east.
date the rocks back to the Middle Jurassic
age, making the range approximately 161–176 million years old, although the North York Moors are formed on rocks from the Lower Jurassic age resulting in shale erosion along the north and west faces of the hills. Roseberry Topping is an outlier
which was formed as a result of erosion, separating it from the Cleveland Hills formation, making it a unique natural hill.
and stone circle
s scattered over the Cleveland Hills and North York Moors, dating back to the Bronze Age
, as well as many cairn
s that are of varied ages, some of which are relatively modern. Hundreds of flint
arrowheads have been discovered during excavations in the hills and dated to the Mesolithic
and Neolithic
periods, indication of an active population in prehistoric times across the region.
was discovered in the Eston Hills
, outliers of the Cleveland Hills, leading to mining on a large scale and the rapid growth of nearby Middlesbrough
. By the 1870s industry would be producing steel in vast amounts, and mining for coal, alum
, jet
, cement stone concretions, shale and potash
from the hills, as well as employing sandstone and limestone quarries to gather raw materials. Many of the mines and quarries are still evident today.
North York Moors
The North York Moors is a national park in North Yorkshire, England. The moors are one of the largest expanses of heather moorland in the United Kingdom. It covers an area of , and it has a population of about 25,000...
in North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire is a non-metropolitan or shire county located in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England, and a ceremonial county primarily in that region but partly in North East England. Created in 1974 by the Local Government Act 1972 it covers an area of , making it the largest...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, overlooking Cleveland
Cleveland, England
Cleveland is an area in the north east of England. Its name means literally "cliff-land", referring to its hilly southern areas, which rise to nearly...
and Teesside
Teesside
Teesside is the name given to the conurbation in the north east of England made up of the towns of Middlesbrough, Stockton-on-Tees, Redcar, Billingham and surrounding settlements near the River Tees. It was also the name of a local government district between 1968 and 1974—the County Borough of...
. They lie entirely within the boundaries of the North York Moors National Park
National park
A national park is a reserve of natural, semi-natural, or developed land that a sovereign state declares or owns. Although individual nations designate their own national parks differently A national park is a reserve of natural, semi-natural, or developed land that a sovereign state declares or...
. Part of the 110 miles (177 km) long Cleveland Way
Cleveland Way
The Cleveland Way is a National Trail in ancient Cleveland in Northern England. It runs 110 miles from Helmsley to Filey, skirting the North York Moors National Park.-History:The trail was opened in 1969...
National Trail runs along the hills, which is a part of Wainwright's
Alfred Wainwright
Alfred Wainwright MBE was a British fellwalker, guidebook author and illustrator. His seven-volume Pictorial Guide to the Lakeland Fells, published between 1955 and 1966 and consisting entirely of reproductions of his manuscript, has become the standard reference work to 214 of the fells of the...
Coast to Coast Walk
Coast to Coast Walk
The Coast to Coast Walk is a 192-mile unofficial and mostly unsignposted long distance footpath in Northern England...
. The hills, which rise abruptly from the flat Tees Valley
Tees Valley
The Tees Valley is an area in the North East of England. It can be described as "greater Teesside" and consists of the four unitary authorities created by the breakup of the County of Cleveland in 1996: Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Redcar & Cleveland, and Stockton-On-Tees along with the borough of...
to the north, include distinctive landmarks such as the cone-shaped peak of Roseberry Topping
Roseberry Topping
Roseberry Topping is a distinctive hill on the border between North Yorkshire and the borough of Redcar and Cleveland, England. It is situated near Great Ayton and Newton under Roseberry. Its summit has a distinctive half-cone shape with a jagged cliff, which has led to many comparisons with the...
near the village of Great Ayton
Great Ayton
Great Ayton is a village and civil parish in the Hambleton district of North Yorkshire on the edge of the North York Moors in England. The name Great Ayton is thought to derive from Ea-tun, tun meaning farm and 'ea' meaning river. It has a population of 4,570....
—childhood home of Captain Cook.
Bilsdale West Moor, situated in the Cleveland Hills, is home to the Bilsdale transmitting station providing 40–50 miles coverage of UHF
Ultra high frequency
Ultra-High Frequency designates the ITU Radio frequency range of electromagnetic waves between 300 MHz and 3 GHz , also known as the decimetre band or decimetre wave as the wavelengths range from one to ten decimetres...
transmissions for digital TV and radio in the north-east.
Formation
Geological studies of the Cleveland Hills plateauPlateau
In geology and earth science, a plateau , also called a high plain or tableland, is an area of highland, usually consisting of relatively flat terrain. A highly eroded plateau is called a dissected plateau...
date the rocks back to the Middle Jurassic
Middle Jurassic
The Middle Jurassic is the second epoch of the Jurassic Period. It lasted from 176-161 million years ago. In European lithostratigraphy, rocks of this Middle Jurassic age are called the Dogger....
age, making the range approximately 161–176 million years old, although the North York Moors are formed on rocks from the Lower Jurassic age resulting in shale erosion along the north and west faces of the hills. Roseberry Topping is an outlier
Inliers and outliers (geology)
An inlier is an area of older rocks surrounded by younger rocks. Inliers are typically formed by the erosion of overlying younger rocks to reveal a limited exposure of the older underlying rocks. Faulting or folding may also contribute to the observed outcrop pattern...
which was formed as a result of erosion, separating it from the Cleveland Hills formation, making it a unique natural hill.
Early man
There are a number of tumuliTumulus
A tumulus is a mound of earth and stones raised over a grave or graves. Tumuli are also known as barrows, burial mounds, Hügelgrab or kurgans, and can be found throughout much of the world. A tumulus composed largely or entirely of stones is usually referred to as a cairn...
and stone circle
Stone circle
A stone circle is a monument of standing stones arranged in a circle. Such monuments have been constructed across the world throughout history for many different reasons....
s scattered over the Cleveland Hills and North York Moors, dating back to the Bronze Age
Bronze Age
The Bronze Age is a period characterized by the use of copper and its alloy bronze as the chief hard materials in the manufacture of some implements and weapons. Chronologically, it stands between the Stone Age and Iron Age...
, as well as many cairn
Cairn
Cairn is a term used mainly in the English-speaking world for a man-made pile of stones. It comes from the or . Cairns are found all over the world in uplands, on moorland, on mountaintops, near waterways and on sea cliffs, and also in barren desert and tundra areas...
s that are of varied ages, some of which are relatively modern. Hundreds of flint
Flint
Flint is a hard, sedimentary cryptocrystalline form of the mineral quartz, categorized as a variety of chert. It occurs chiefly as nodules and masses in sedimentary rocks, such as chalks and limestones. Inside the nodule, flint is usually dark grey, black, green, white, or brown in colour, and...
arrowheads have been discovered during excavations in the hills and dated to the Mesolithic
Mesolithic
The Mesolithic is an archaeological concept used to refer to certain groups of archaeological cultures defined as falling between the Paleolithic and the Neolithic....
and Neolithic
Neolithic
The Neolithic Age, Era, or Period, or New Stone Age, was a period in the development of human technology, beginning about 9500 BC in some parts of the Middle East, and later in other parts of the world. It is traditionally considered as the last part of the Stone Age...
periods, indication of an active population in prehistoric times across the region.
Stone circles in the Cleveland Hills
- Commondale
- Tripsdale Bride Stones
- Thimbleby Nine Stones
Mining and industry
In 1850 ironstoneIronstone
Ironstone is a sedimentary rock, either deposited directly as a ferruginous sediment or created by chemical repacement, that contains a substantial proportion of an iron compound from which iron either can be or once was smelted commercially. This term is customarily restricted to hard coarsely...
was discovered in the Eston Hills
Eston Nab
Eston Nab is a local landmark to those who live along the River Tees, in north-east England.A nab is a rocky promontory, or outcrop, and Eston Nab, marking the highest point – at - on the escarpment which forms Eston Hills, appears as a clear sandstone cliff on the northernmost edge of Eston Moor...
, outliers of the Cleveland Hills, leading to mining on a large scale and the rapid growth of nearby Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough is a large town situated on the south bank of the River Tees in north east England, that sits within the ceremonial county of North Yorkshire...
. By the 1870s industry would be producing steel in vast amounts, and mining for coal, alum
Alum
Alum is both a specific chemical compound and a class of chemical compounds. The specific compound is the hydrated potassium aluminium sulfate with the formula KAl2.12H2O. The wider class of compounds known as alums have the related empirical formula, AB2.12H2O.-Chemical properties:Alums are...
, jet
Jet (lignite)
Jet is a geological material and is considered to be a minor gemstone. Jet is not considered a true mineral, but rather a mineraloid as it has an organic origin, being derived from decaying wood under extreme pressure....
, cement stone concretions, shale and potash
Potash
Potash is the common name for various mined and manufactured salts that contain potassium in water-soluble form. In some rare cases, potash can be formed with traces of organic materials such as plant remains, and this was the major historical source for it before the industrial era...
from the hills, as well as employing sandstone and limestone quarries to gather raw materials. Many of the mines and quarries are still evident today.
The hills
| Hill | Grid Reference | Height to summit | |
|---|---|---|---|
| metres | feet | ||
| Urra Moor Urra Moor Urra Moor is the highest moor in the North York Moors at 454 metres above sea level, in the national park in North Yorkshire, England. The name applies to the moor as a whole; the summit itself is known as Round Hill.... (Round Hill) |
454 | 1,490 | |
| Cringle Moor Cringle Moor Cringle Moor is the third highest hill in the North York Moors, and the highest point west of Clay Bank.The hill is crossed by the Cleveland Way National Trail and is a part of Wainwrights Coast to Coast Walk, which also passes over the neighbouring tops of Cold Moor, Carlton Moor, Live Moor and... |
432 | 1,417 | |
| Carlton Bank Carlton Bank Carlton Bank is a hill in the Cleveland Hills, in north-east England. It is located on Carlton Moor in the North York Moors and overlooks the villages of Carlton-in-Cleveland and Faceby. The summit provides extensive views of Teesside including Middlesbrough and Redcar to the north as well as the... |
408 | 1,339 | |
| Cold Moor | 402 | 1,319 | |
| Hasty Bank Hasty Bank Hasty Bank is a hill in the Cleveland Hills range of the North York Moors, in north-east England. The Cleveland Way National Trail crosses Hasty Bank and is part of Wainwright's Coast to Coast Walk. The north face of Hasty Bank has heavily eroded, possessing a vertical rocky face sloping steeply... |
398 | 1,306 | |
| Tidy Brown Hill | 396 | 1,299 | |
| Bilsdale West Moor | 395 | 1,296 | |
| Warren Moor | 335 | 1,099 | |
| Gisborough Moor Gisborough Moor Gisborough Moor is a moor in England's North York Moors, lying to the south of the town of Guisborough. The summit is a broad flat ridge, with the highest point at the southern end, some 2 km south of a trig point. It is crossed by a number of footpaths leading between the Cleveland Way and... |
328 | 1,076 | |
| Easby Moor Easby Moor Easby Moor is a hill in the North York Moors at above sea level, in the national park in North Yorkshire, England. It overlooks the village of Great Ayton.... |
324 | 1,063 | |
| Park Nab | 324 | 1,063 | |
| Roseberry Topping Roseberry Topping Roseberry Topping is a distinctive hill on the border between North Yorkshire and the borough of Redcar and Cleveland, England. It is situated near Great Ayton and Newton under Roseberry. Its summit has a distinctive half-cone shape with a jagged cliff, which has led to many comparisons with the... |
320 | 1,050 | |
| Live Moor | 315 | 1,033 | |
| Highcliff Nab | 310 | 1,017 | |
| Codhill Heights | 296 | 971 | |
| Eston Nab Eston Nab Eston Nab is a local landmark to those who live along the River Tees, in north-east England.A nab is a rocky promontory, or outcrop, and Eston Nab, marking the highest point – at - on the escarpment which forms Eston Hills, appears as a clear sandstone cliff on the northernmost edge of Eston Moor... |
242 | 794 |
Towns and villages in the Cleveland Hills
There are numerous towns and villages on, or in the vicinity of, the Cleveland Hills including the following:- Carlton-in-Cleveland
- EasbyEasby, HambletonEasby is a village and civil parish in Hambleton district of North Yorkshire, England. It lies approximately south-east of Great Ayton. The larger village of Low Easby lies down the road, but neither have any amenities, only a postbox....
- EstonEstonEston is a town within the Unitary Authority of Redcar and Cleveland, England. Within the Middlesbrough agglomeration it falls inside the Greater Eston initiative...
- FileyFileyFiley is a small town and civil parish in North Yorkshire, England. It forms part of the borough of Scarborough and is located between Scarborough and Bridlington on the North Sea coast. Although it started out as a fishing village, it has a large beach and is a popular tourist resort...
- Great AytonGreat AytonGreat Ayton is a village and civil parish in the Hambleton district of North Yorkshire on the edge of the North York Moors in England. The name Great Ayton is thought to derive from Ea-tun, tun meaning farm and 'ea' meaning river. It has a population of 4,570....
- Great BroughtonGreat Broughton, North YorkshireGreat Broughton is a village in the Hambleton district of North Yorkshire in northern England. It is located two miles south of Stokesley, on the edge of the North Yorkshire Moors National Park and the Cleveland Hills. Together with the adjacent village of Little Broughton, it forms a civil parish...
- GuisboroughGuisboroughGuisborough is a market town and civil parish within the unitary authority of Redcar and Cleveland and the ceremonial county of North Yorkshire, England....
- HelmsleyHelmsleyHelmsley is a market town and civil parish in the Ryedale district of North Yorkshire, England. The town is located at the point where the valleys of Bilsdale and Ryedale leave the higher moorland and join the flat Vale of Pickering. It is situated on the River Rye and lies on the A170 road, east...
- KildaleKildaleKildale is a village and civil parish in Hambleton district of North Yorkshire, England. It lies approximately 3 miles south-east of Great Ayton, in the North Yorkshire Moors on the Cleveland Way National Trail....
- Newton under RoseberryNewton under RoseberryNewton under Roseberry is a village in the borough of Redcar and Cleveland and the ceremonial county of North Yorkshire, England. It is on the A173, between Great Ayton and Guisborough and is close to the base of Roseberry Topping....
- Osmotherley
- Slapewath
- Staithes
- StokesleyStokesleyStokesley is a small market town and civil parish in the Hambleton district of North Yorkshire, England. It lies on the River Leven. Stokesley is located about two miles south of the boundary of the borough of Middlesbrough and ten miles south of Middlesbrough town centre. Stokesley is located...
- SwainbySwainbySwainby is a village in the Hambleton district of North Yorkshire, England. It is 8 miles north east of Northallerton on the A172. The small market town of Stokesley is only 5 miles away....
Interesting places to see
- Captain Cook Monument, Easby MoorEasby MoorEasby Moor is a hill in the North York Moors at above sea level, in the national park in North Yorkshire, England. It overlooks the village of Great Ayton....
- Captain Cook Schoolroom Museum, Great Ayton
- Roseberry Topping
- Wainstones, Hasty Bank