Project : Larpool Lane
Status : Proposal
The Larpool Lane road access point to the Cinder Track is officially the access point to get on to the National Cycle Network 165 route, travelling down “Danger Bank”! The route laong Larpool Lane is inherently unsafe for pedestrians and cyclists with no footpath, and cars utilising the road as a “ratrun” (note, Glen Esk Road has been closed due to a land slip since 2024, so the problem is not as significant currently, but upon reopening would again be unsafe). The Walk Wheel & Cycle Trust have previously expressed a desire to find a better way to get to Ruswarp, and avoid this unsafe route.
Route
The section of Larpool Lane to the Cinder Track road access is too narrow for safe cycling, and so we could run a path the other side of the hedge utilising Larpool Playing Fields
The Proposal
The proposal is to provide a new multi-user path through this area, providing for pedestrians, people on mobility devices, and people on bikes. The proposal for this path aligns with the adopted Whitby Active Travel Plan / LCWIP, providing an extension of Corridor 8 (Larpool Lane to Whitby Town Centre).
In a survey that we conducted in Jan-Feb 2026 with school pupils, a path through this green corridor was often mentioned as something that would increase safety for walk/cycle to school.
Once complete this project would be suitable for : Walking, Cycling, Wheeling, Scooting.
Benefits of the Proposal
The proposed upgrade to the path through this area would provide the following benefits.
- Increased pedestrian footfall through the area. Many people are currently put off due to the lack of footpath and the speed of vehicles.
- Fully accessible and inclusive. Suitable for mobility scooters, wheelchairs, push chairs, and bicycles etc.
- Improved connectivity to Cinder Track. This path would provide a connecting path between Eskdale and Larpool estates towards the Cinder Track, and hence increasing the utilisation of the Cinder Track.
- Improved walk and cycle to Whitby School for Eskdale and Larpool estates since they would no longer need to use Whitby New Bridge.
- Fully lit path. Lighting that extends from Cormorant Drive to the Cinder Track.
Viability
The path would pass through 2 fields. Larpool Playing Field is a green space area owned by North Yorkshire Council. The second field is in private ownership, and so some arrangement would need to be made.
Design
The path would be the order of 500m in length, and would be 3m width for the majority of the length.