Yorkshire Walks

Goldsborough Roman Signal Station

Map based on Ordnance Survey mapping by permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of the Controller of Her Majesty's Stationery Office. © Crown Copyright.

Length of walk: 6 miles
Start/finish: Sandsend on the A174 coast road north of Whitby. Use the car park at northern end of the village, by Sandsend Bridge
Terrain: After a short spell on the road, steep and quite busy, the walk follows field paths and tracks over rural farmland and along the route of a disused railway

This walk combines the natural beauty of the North Yorkshire coastline with a fascinating insight into how the region was defended by the Romans against enemy attack. Climbing briskly towards a breezy headland, the walk makes for Sandsend Ness, skirting the site of a disused alum quarry. The countryside around the signal station may be calm and tranquil now, but this intricately designed defence system would have been a hive of frantic activity during the Occupation, with a constant vigil maintained over the surrounding area.

With its spacious, sandy beach and protective wall of cliffs, Sandsend has long been a popular holiday base. The sands stretch for over two miles/3.2km, all the way to the west pier by Whitby harbour. Several becks dash down to the sea at Sandsend and the village includes rows of picturesque, honey-coloured cottages. According to some sources, Lewis Carroll took a seaside stroll at Sandsend, inspiring him to write his poem about the Walrus and the Carpenter. The Romans are known to have operated a cement works here during the Occupation.

From the car park by Sandsend Bridge, turn right and walk up the hill, following the A174 as it curves to the right. Bear right just before the National Park boundary sign and join a footpath. A superb view of Sandsend Wyke and the buildings of the village opens up here. Pass through the gate and keep alongside the fence. Continue beyond the next waymark. Go up the slope and skirt the field by keeping the fence and coast on the right. Cross the stile in the field corner; St Oswald¹s church at nearby Lythe can be seen over to the left, its spire soaring against the horizon.

Avoiding a concessionary route (denoted by a white arrow), the path runs round the rim of Deep Grove Quarry, once mined for alum but now disused and returning to a state of natural vegetation. Cross two enclosures towards the buildings of Deepgrove Farm. Join a track leading to the farm, then bear right at the sign for Kettleness. Cross a stile and continue towards some woodland. Descend a flight of steps, cross over a beck and take the path as it runs left and right, up the slope; steps make the going a little easier. Cross a stile at the top, bear left and follow the field boundary.

Take the next left-hand track and follow it to Overdale Farm. Pass through a gate and join the next track on a bend. Go straight ahead and turn right at the road. Bear left and walk into the centre of Goldsborough. Pass the village inn and note the amusing sign, depicting a fox and some hounds playing dominoes, drinking and generally enjoying a convivial evening. Follow the road towards Kettleness, bearing right after a short distance into a farmyard.

Veer left and head between the outbuildings to a stile and gate. Go down to the next gate, beyond which are a stile and waymark. Head diagonally across the field towards a solitary cottage, standing out against the sea. This immediate area marks the site of a Roman signal station and beside the footpath is a written and illustrated account of its history.

Goldsborough is one of a series of 4th-century signal stations built along this coast between Flamborough Head and the River Tees. Their key role was to provide the Roman Garrison with advance warning of marauding Scottish or Saxon raiders. Each station conformed to the same design, consisting of a central tower surrounded by a wall enclosing an area 90 metres square. A beacon, sending signals of fire or drifting smoke from the top of the tower, could be spotted from the next station. The signals were relayed to navy bases in the Tyne and Humber estuaries, and to a cavalry unit at Malton, allowing Roman forces to intercept the invaders. Typically, this strategy was well-planned and effective. Over 300 coins were found at the Goldsborough site when it was excavated at the end of the First World War. The dates on them indicate the signal station here was occupied between 368 AD and 395 AD. Other evidence suggests that Goldsborough might have been ransacked and later abandoned.

Cross the stile and go diagonally down the field and look for a stile to the right of the disused Chapel of St John the Baptist, famous in this area for its striking patterned roof. Make for the road and turn right. Pass the entrance to Cliff House Farm and follow the lane between the buildings of Kettleness. Look for a sign for the Cleveland Way, bear right and follow the trail over the cliffs towards Sandsend. The path skirts various fields, with the North Sea dominating the view. The church at Lythe, a useful landmark, makes another appearance on this walk.

Having crossed a number of stiles on this stretch of the route, go down some steps, uneven in places, to the route of the former Middlesbrough to Whitby railway. The mouth of a tunnel can be seen on the right here; a sign advises pedestrians to keep out due to roof-fall and subsidence. Turn left and follow the disused trackbed towards Sandsend. When the car park comes into view, take the stepped path on the left.

From Walks Around Whitby by Nick Channer

The information given in this walk has been provided in good faith and is intended only as a general guide. Whilst all reasonable efforts have been made to ensure that details were correct at the time of publication, the author and Country Publications Ltd cannot accept any responsibility for inaccuracies. It is the responsibility of individuals undertaking outdoor activities to approach the activity with caution and, especially if inexperienced, to do so under appropriate supervision. The activity described in this walk is strenuous and individuals should ensure that they are suitably fit before embarking upon it. They should carry the appropriate equipment and maps, be properly clothed and have adequate footwear. They should also take note of weather conditions and forecasts, and leave notice of their intended route and estimated time of return.