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hat makes a good walk? Stunning scenery, jaw-dropping views, the omnipresent twitter of birds, and the promise of a hearty feast in an English pub? Yep, we’d second that. And these are the ingredients which make the route between Scarborough Castle and Robin Hood’s Bay one of the best.

The hardest thing about the walk is dragging yourself away from Scarborough Castle. With panoramic views from the battlements and a history spanning from prehistoric settlers to World War II spies, via Romans, Saxons and Vikings, it’s easy to lose yourself but there’s plenty more to see along North Yorkshire’s east coast.

After a blast from the past, it’s time to stride out with walking poles and camera at the ready as you trek along the disused line of the Whitby to Scarborough Railway. At Ravenscar, you’ll experience yet more beautiful views as well as meadow flowers, orchids, and nesting birds. There’s no need for a map either, because just like Johnny Cash, you’re walking the line.

After negotiating deep wooded ravines and passing under old railway arches, you’ll finally reach Robin Hood’s Bay. A fishing village since the 1500s, Robin Hood’s Bay with its narrow alleyways, red-roofed cottages and smuggling history is a quaint and delightful idyll, perfect for that well-deserved pint of ale and home-cooked grub in the Dolphin.