Esk Valley Line: window card

About this journey

From Middlesbrough, the railway passes through the southern suburbs and reaches the North York Moors through the rural Esk Valley. Villages including Danby, Glaisdale and Egton punctuate the journey towards Grosmont. Here the heritage North Yorkshire Moors Railway joins the scheduled line. Sleights and Ruswarp lead into Whitby, where the station is beside the harbour area. Village walks and the seaside destination are different outings; Grosmont also offers a railway-focused stop before the final run to the coast.

Grosmont makes an appealing alternative for someone whose interest is the railway itself. The community rail guide describes the shared station with the North Yorkshire Moors Railway and the village's heritage-railway atmosphere. A stop here can be the centre of a shorter day. If adding a separate heritage ride, give its ticket and operating arrangements their own place in the itinerary instead of expecting every train on the line to have the same conditions.

Whitby has enough interest for an unhurried visit without a list of compulsory attractions. The local railway guide highlights the harbour, Church Street, the abbey and museums. Choose the waterfront for a compact stay, or one main attraction if you have more time. The 199 steps and abbey area are a different outing from a gentle harbour stroll, so make that choice according to your party. A return through the Esk Valley then finishes the day with another view of the countryside you came through.

A normal scheduled Northern service connecting Middlesbrough with Whitby through the heart of the North York Moors National Park. Beyond the Tees Valley suburbs, the railway follows the River Esk for much of its rural run, linking small villages before reaching the Yorkshire coast.

Ride to Whitby for the harbour and seaside, or choose Danby, Glaisdale or Grosmont as a village and walking stop. Grosmont connects with the separately ticketed North Yorkshire Moors Railway. A walk on the high moor is a separate outing from the valley train ride. Use the current Northern timetable for rural calls and the last practical return, then allow the station-to-path distance when choosing a walking route.

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