Discover Skelton-In-Cleveland through its various historical traces: from the medieval borough at Boroughgate to the church with its older furnishings. There are also Skelton Castle and the Cleveland Way. You can tailor your stay to different interests, focusing on archaeological remains, architectural history or a nationally significant walking trail.
Boroughgate and the history of the town
Boroughgate is the site of the medieval Borough of Skelton, founded by the Bruce family. Visible earthwork remains of houses and property boundaries have been preserved there. They draw attention not only to individual buildings, but also to the former layout of the settlement. The Skelton Conservation Area encompasses the historic market town centre as well as Skelton Castle, its immediate surroundings and the associated grounds. The town’s history thus brings together traces of the borough and a larger designated historic area.
The Mosaic Trail also leads to Boroughgate: it runs along a restored footpath that provides safe access. The project aimed to install 27 small mosaic panels along the village’s main street. The planned route extends from All Saints Parish Church in the east to Old All Saints Church in the west. The panels are therefore part of a distinct discovery trail focused on the village; Boroughgate adds the visible earthwork remains and the history of the medieval borough.
All Saints’ Church and Skelton Castle
All Saints’ Church, Skelton-in-Cleveland, is set in parkland overlooking Skelton Castle. The castle is a Grade I listed building. The Conservation Area includes both the historic market town and the area around the castle; the church offers a separate historical focus. When planning a trip with an interest in architecture and local history, it is worth treating these as distinct themes rather than as a single attraction.
The church was largely rebuilt in 1785. At the same time, the Church of All Saints preserves older items from the Old Church of All Saints: an 11th-century sundial fragment with a runic inscription and an early 13th-century bell. The different dates provide an overview of several centuries of church history. The sundial fragment combines an early date with an inscription; the bell offers a glimpse of the later medieval period. If you would like to visit the church, it is open daily from 10 am to 4 pm. Check the opening hours before your visit.
Walking and local discoveries
The Cleveland Way, a nationally significant walking trail, passes through Skelton and Brotton; a final section runs through Skelton. This gives it a different planning focus from the Mosaic Trail: here, the emphasis is on a nationally significant walking trail, while the Mosaic Trail focuses on the history and character of the village, with the route extending to Boroughgate. These descriptions refer to the respective trails, not to a shared route. If you plan to include the Cleveland Way in your itinerary, check current trail conditions before setting out.
You can use these differences to choose your priorities: Boroughgate represents the history of the medieval borough and its preserved earthwork remains; the church combines architectural history, older furnishings and views of Skelton Castle. The Mosaic Trail takes you into another part of the village’s history with its planned panel route, while the Cleveland Way presents Skelton as part of a nationally significant walking trail. This lets you tailor your stay to your interests without combining the different places and trails into a single visit.
Discover more destinations: Brotton, Loftus, Great Ayton, Saltburn-By-The-Sea, Moorsholm, Guisborough.
Go to the main travel overview: Redcar And Cleveland.
