The Langbaurgh Loop

TheSpa Hotel at Saltburn continues to develop.

First appearing in the town as the Assembly Rooms, there was a grand opening in 1885.

The design was by Alfred Waterhouse, one of Britain’s busiest architects at the time, who must have been hard pressed to fit it in. Alfred was notable for his productivity and many grand buildings including the Town Hall at Darlington and Manchester and the Natural History Museum in London still stand today as a tribute to his work.

The original Assembly Rooms offered a concert hall with capacity for 600 patrons. Considerable modernisation and extension took place around 1935 and the Spa Pavilion was launched, offering a large café and a ballroom.

One of the later occupants of the stage area was the Saltburn ’53 Society which performed there until 1970.

In the 1970s a transformation into the Philmore Country Club was soon followed with Philmores night club. The popularity grew but later turned to notoriety and closure took place in 1992.

Subsequent change of ownership led to the development of an hotel in 1994 which has seen many changes since.

The latest development has started with the demolition of the conservatory restaurant and bar area already under way. Planning permission has been secured for a new design of the extension with a roof terrace which will afford even more spectacular views over the coast line, adding further to its popularity as a venue to visit.

The‘Loop’ is a 38 mile long distance challenge walk starting and finishing in Saltburn and follows a route entirely within the boundary of Redcar & Cleveland. Designed in 1986 and first walked in 1987 by Philip Thomson and 6 intrepid colleagues.

Currently Philip and Geoff Watkins, a fellow walker form Saltburn, are checking out the fine details of the route before publishing an up to date brochure and holding a ‘relaunch’ event at the end of May.

The Langbaurgh Loop can be walked in either direction, setting off in an Easterly or Westerly direction. There are seven sections.

Section one, going East, is 5.3 miles long and sets off along the coast taking the Cleveland Way from Cat Nab. From the Ship Inn the path rises onto Huntcliff and heads for Skinningrove. The pathway does at times come close to the cliffs but Redcar & Cleveland’s Countryside Team, which looks after this section for the Cleveland Way manager in Helmsley, is engaged in maintenance work to upgrade surfaces and move some of the pathway sections further inland.

This spectacular walk reaches to Skinningrove where a descent reveals the incredible beach, which remains unspoilt after all this time. The jetty which was built to service the Iron Works in days gone by is passed and a further ascent is made up on to Hummersea and then along the cliff path to the old alum quarries before turning South towards Upton.

The ‘Loop’ actually goes past Street Houses where the Saxon archaeological digs have taken place in recent years.

Section one has more climbs than others, but once up on what are estimated to be the highest cliffs in England, the ‘Loop’ has an easier feel as walkers set off South in the direction of Robin Hood Butts on the other side of the A171.