Saltburn by the Sea – Card

The Cleveland Way is one of the shorter national trails, beginning in Helmsley in North Yorkshire. The path takes you to the coast at Saltburn by the Sea, and then all along the coastal path to Filey Brigg. In May 2025 I ran the whole path over the course of a week. I was on my own for most of it, then joined by my best running friends at Whitby for the last couple of days. I carried a little running pack with everything I needed for the week on my back (I wasn’t camping!) and the smallest drawing kit in a pouch on my front. I stopped to draw whenever inspiration struck. I took photographs too, but mostly the paintings are based on the sketches.

The coastal bit of the path is just over the halfway mark and I was so excited when I finally reached the sea. I could smell the salt on the air from miles away and I emerged from Skelton woods into Saltburn. This most iconic view of Saltburn! The reds against the soft blue greys of the sea make it look like it’s posing for a travel poster, but I was so pleased to see it that the first coastal picture just had to be this.