Saltburn Gill
Saltburn Gill is a 52 acre (21ha) SSSI woodland and good example of the type of woodland that would once have covered East Cleveland with around mixture of oak and ash, and a hazel and holly understorey. A public footpath runs through the entire length and provides good opportunities to see all the reserve has to offer. SPRING and SUMMER are by far the best times to visit the reserve when the woodland wild flowers are out. The lesser celandines start it all off with their showy yellow flowers followed shortly afterwords by carpets of strong smelling wild garlic and bluebells. Other plants to look out for include woodruff, bugle, moschatel and wood havens. So keep your eyes peeled. Summer sees the arrival of the migrants with chiffchaffs often being the first to arrive. AUTUMN and the falling leaves makes it easier to see mixed tit flocks moving through the canopy as they search out the last insects before winter. Autumn is also the time for fungi and toadstools as they help with the recycling process. WINTER is ideal for ferns.
OS map: NZ674 208
Contact: 01287 636382
Best For
Roe deer, weasel, pendulous sedge, dutch rush, stinking iris, early purple orchid, tormentil, primrose, dog-violet, wood anemone, spindle, guilder rose, bullfinch, nuthatch, great spotted woodpecker, woodcock, tawny own, sparrowhawk, grey wagtail, willow tit
Opening Times
Open All Year
Access/Conditions
The paths are often muddy in winter and care should be taken when climbing the steep flight of steps. The site is not really suitable for disabled access.
Facilities
reserve leaflet and information boards, guided walk and events, public WC in the car park (open during summer), beach cafe 200m from entrance
How to get there
From Redcar, take the a174 to saltburn. Follow the road down saltburn bank onto the seafront, cross over the bridge, take the first right & park in the public car park. Walk towards the Northumbrian Water pumping station (the very large red brick building) and the signposted public footpath to the entrance.
Parking
park in the public car park below Cat Nab (£2 Apr to Oct, free Nov to Mar)
Walking time
52 acre (21ha) reserve. The walk along the public footpath and back takes about 1 hr
30 minute visit
Follow the footpath up to Lum Hole (where the bridleway and footpath cross), then retrace your steps back to the car park
Local Attractions
Saltburn-by-the-sea, an attractive Victorian Spa town on the Cleveland coast has a Smugglers Heritage Centre & seafront pub (the ship inn)
Did you know?
A wooden footbridge once crossed over the top of the gill to allow the ironstone miners to get to the mines on Warsett Hill. There was water mill at the entrance of the gill until 1903, evidence of some of the walls can be seen at the reserve entrance.
A member says
"It's a refuge, where you can lose a couple of hours just raking around the woods. I see something new every time I go and i've been coming for 25 years!"
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