9k Run Hambleton: Stunning Views of Cringle Moor

Route Overview & Local Insights

This 8.5km circuit across the Cleveland Hills offers a punchy, high-elevation challenge for runners looking to test their legs on the North York Moors. Starting from Clay Bank Top, you'll climb steeply onto the Lyke Wake Walk trail, heading toward the distinctive summit of Cringle Moor. With 374m of ascent and a "hilly" rating of 5, the terrain is a rugged mix of technical stone-paved tracks and windswept singletrack. At over 500m above sea level, you are fully exposed to the elements, rewarded with expansive, 360-degree views stretching across the Tees Valley and toward the distant Pennines. The return leg follows an adjacent path, providing a fast descent that requires nimble footwork as you navigate the heather-clad slopes.

Steeped in local folklore and history, this section of the North York Moors is iconic among the North East running community. Cringle Moor, also known as Lord Stones, is named after the nearby ancient stone café and burial mounds that date back to the Bronze Age. The route traverses part of the Cleveland Way National Trail and the famous Lyke Wake Walk, a 40-mile crossing of the moors traditional to local scouts and fell runners. As you crest the ridge, look out for the Alec Falconer memorial seat—a perfect spot for a quick breather—which commemorates a local rambler who long advocated for public access to these stunning upland landscapes.