Improving paths at Roseberry Topping
We know that Roseberry Topping has always held a special place in the hearts of Teessiders. The path network needs extensive restoration to make sure residents and visitors to the area can enjoy this much-loved feature long into the future.
Over the coming years, the National Trust and North York Moors National Park Authority are working in partnership to repair and resurface walking routes on Roseberry Topping.
On the paths leading up to the summit, erosion scars are now nearly 15 metres wide in places, causing damage to the important upland grass habitats and impacting the appearance of the landscape. The work will help to accommodate the number of visitors to the site, whilst repairing environmental and ecological damage, and improve access with a better surface.
Visiting Roseberry Topping
- Throughout the path works, path closures and diversions will be needed to ensure visitors can continue to enjoy their time in nature.
- Clear signage will be in place to help visitors navigate around the areas of work – please follow the marked routes.
- We appreciate this may change your usual walking routes, however the closures and diversions are there to protect the safety of visitors and contractors during the work.
In 2024, work will be carried out in late spring and summer, into autumn, with other paths being slowly staggered in the future.
I’d like to thank visitors for their patience whilst work progresses, and for their continued support by sticking to the paths to allow reseeding to establish, and to prevent further erosion in the future.
What is going on?
The extensive repairs will focus on improving ten paths over several years so people can continue to enjoy walking and spending time in nature in the area. The pathways are a mix of permissive paths, maintained by the National Trust, and public footpaths and bridleways that are the responsibility of the National Park Authority. Each will have its own unique plan to optimise the path network with added drainage, steps where appropriate and planting. Some work will be carried out by specialist contractors, and some by the National Trust and Park Authority teams of staff and volunteers.
A bit about archaeology
Roseberry Topping has been a prominent feature in the lives of local people for thousands of years and there are many archaeological remains on it and around it such as pre-historic flints.
From the outset, path work has been designed to risk as little archaeology as possible. Before construction work reaches non-eroded areas, National Trust archaeologists are carefully investigating to see if there are any archaeological remains present. There will also be a team monitoring the work as it evolves, just in case anything unexpected comes to light.
A few facts about the first path to be repaired...
Materials
120 tonnes of rough stone blocks will be used for drains, steps and edges. Plus 40 tonnes of aggregate for the surfaces.
Distance
The path stretches 416 metres from Newton Wood to the summit.
Height
The summit sits at 320 metres above sea level and there is a 120 metre change in height from the gate to the top.
The future
It is currently impossible to say how long the full range of work will be ongoing. We are hoping to secure funding to support the repairs of the wider network of paths in the near future.
Balancing visitor enjoyment with the restoration is at the heart of the timeline in planning for the remaining paths. Check back for updates, see what's coming next and for any opportunities to get involved.
Did you know?
The summit of Roseberry Topping is designated as a geological Site of Special Scientific Interest and there are several areas of historical mining and archaeological significance on the hill. This work will help future visitors to keep to the appropriate routes and preserve the landscape for the next generation to enjoy.
Our partners
The North York Moors National Park Authority looks after this beautiful corner of Yorkshire, helping to protect and conserve it, while encouraging people to enjoy and understand how special it is.
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