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North Yorkshire Moors Railway: North Yorkshire Moors Railway. - geograph.org.uk - 188292

England · The North York Moors and the Yorkshire coast

North Yorkshire Moors Railway

Pickering → Grosmont → Whitby

Steam through the North York Moors

Heritage railway

Steve Partridge · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Photograph source

At a glance

Journey time
Allow half a day
Best side
Watch both sides
Operator
North Yorkshire Moors Railway
How often
Seasonal heritage timetable; services, traction and Whitby extensions vary by date.
Ticket tip
Heritage railway tickets
Step-free access
NYMR's adapted heritage carriages have wider doors, portable ramps, wheelchair space and an accessible toilet. — access details
Where to stay: WhitbyTickets

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By Does Your Duck Quack

SourcesShape your dayHow we research

Before boarding

The practical railway facts

A heritage journey through heather country and traditional stations, with the option to continue to Whitby and the coast.

Operator
North Yorkshire Moors Railway1
Service pattern
Seasonal heritage timetable; services, traction and Whitby extensions vary by date.1
Reservations
Book the intended dated service where required; a booking does not guarantee a particular side unless the operator explicitly offers seat selection.
Typical train
Heritage steam or diesel formations, sometimes with different accessibility arrangements.

Pick your window

Which side to sit on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway

Watch both sides for Newton Dale’s wooded slopes and rock faces, followed by the changing river windows of the Esk Valley.3

Both sides

Pickering to Whitby

Pickering to Whitby: both windows recommendedTrain viewed from above, travelling right on this diagram. Left and right refer to facing forwards. Both window rows are highlighted equally.Left window — recommendedTravel →Right window — recommended
Facing forwards: favour both sides.

Newton Dale surrounds the winding railway with wooded slopes and rock faces on both sides; after Grosmont, the Esk Valley section changes the river-facing side at crossings. Watch both sides for these successive landscapes.10

Both sides

Whitby to Pickering

Whitby to Pickering: both windows recommendedTrain viewed from above, travelling left on this diagram. Left and right refer to facing forwards. Both window rows are highlighted equally.Right window — recommended← TravelLeft window — recommended
Facing forwards: favour both sides.

Watch both sides towards Pickering. The Esk Valley comes first between Whitby and Grosmont, with river views changing at crossings; beyond Grosmont, Newton Dale has wooded slopes and rock faces on both sides.10

Why ride it

The view from the train

Pickering is the southern end of the heritage railway, with restored station buildings before the climb towards Levisham. Newton Dale brings a narrow, wooded valley; Goathland adds a moorland village and another historic station. Grosmont is the junction with the scheduled Esk Valley Line and the location of the railway's locomotive facilities. Whitby-bound heritage services continue over the national network. A ticket for the heritage railway and a Northern ticket for the Esk Valley are different products.

From Pickering, follow the route through Levisham and Newton Dale towards Goathland. The national park guide places the railway in its moorland and valley landscape, while the station pages give you ideas for breaking the ride. Keep the sequence in mind and enjoy the changes between stops. A station arrival is part of the scenery here: buildings, platforms and a pause beside the train add scale to the countryside around them.

Goathland is a particularly good stop when you want both railway atmosphere and a village exploration. NYMR identifies the station's film and television connections and describes the village a short walk up the bank. The converted goods-shed tearoom gives a gentler alternative to a longer walk. Let the station be interesting in its own right, even if you have no interest in its screen appearances. A refreshment and time to look around can be a satisfying break.

Grosmont offers a different emphasis, with the engine sheds and the working side of the heritage railway. Its official station guide describes the pedestrian route through the historic George Stephenson tunnel to the shed shop. Choose this stop if locomotives and the railway's maintenance story are what bring you here. Public access is a chance to enjoy the railway from another angle; seeing particular work or an engine in motion is something to appreciate if it happens.

Whitby makes the itinerary a railway-and-coast day, but it need not be the destination for every trip. A Pickering–Grosmont outing with a substantial station stop can be just as rewarding when heritage is your main interest. If you choose Whitby, select a service that actually reaches it and give the return its own place in the plan. Our preference is one main intermediate stop or time at the coast, with the option of another ride left for a future visit.

Levisham MoorGoathlandWhitby Abbey views

Best stops on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway

Choose one main stop for a day out. Distances are one way from the station unless a circuit is stated; walking times are our estimates except where the attraction publishes one. Allow-time suggestions include time to look around.

Stop 1

Pickering

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Combine the heritage station with the castle above town before taking the train into Newton Dale.

From the station: 0.25 miles (around 10 minutes’ walk uphill)12

How we measure

Check the next train back before leaving the station

Request stop: No — use a service shown as calling here.14

What is nearby

  • Pickering Castle — The English Heritage castle stands above the town; its grass and uneven paths make the visit more demanding than the street approach.

From the platform

Leave Platform 1 through the main station entrance on Park Street and follow the signed castle route uphill towards Castlegate and the castle entrance. English Heritage places the station 0.25 miles away.

Access: The station has accessible arrangements described by NYMR, but the castle is not wholly step-free: uneven grass, staircases and the currently restricted route around the moat limit access. Use the castle’s access page for the parts reachable on the day.

Food and drink

Allow time: Allow 1½–2 hours for the castle and station, with more for a town meal.

Find places to stay in Pickering on Booking.com (opens in a new tab)

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Stop 2

Levisham

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Use Levisham for a quiet valley station and the climb to the village, with moorland walking beyond.

From the station: about 1.6 miles (around 45 minutes’ walk uphill)1617

How we measure

Check the next train back before leaving the station

Request stop: No — use a service shown as calling here.14

What is nearby

  • Levisham village and The Horseshoe Inn — The village is above the station; the road walk is a real climb, not a level stroll between the train and pub.

From the platform

Leave the platforms by the station’s level-crossing end and take the road east, climbing out of Newtondale to Braygate Balk and Braygate Lane into Levisham. The measured road route to The Horseshoe Inn is about 1.6 miles; stay alert on the narrow lane. For a longer moor outing, NYMR’s station guide points to Levisham Moor and Skelton Tower.

Access: The village road has a steep climb and narrow sections, so discuss that approach with NYMR before planning it with a wheelchair. Arrange station-platform access and boarding assistance through the railway’s access guidance.

Food and drink

  • Weighbridge Tea Hut — At the station; use the railway’s Levisham page to check availability before relying on it.

  • The Horseshoe Inn — In Levisham village at the top of the road walk; the descent back to the train is part of the stop.

Allow time: Allow 2–3 hours for the village walk and a pub stop, with extra time for a moorland extension.

Stop 3

Goathland

5181419

Get off for the station that played Hogsmeade and Aidensfield, then walk up the bank into the village.

From the station: at the station (no onward walk)5

How we measure

Check the next train back before leaving the station

Request stop: No — use a service shown as calling here.14

What is nearby

  • Goathland station film location — NYMR identifies the station as Hogsmeade in the first Harry Potter film and Aidensfield in Heartbeat; the location is the arrival station itself.

  • Goathland village — The village begins up the bank near The Goathland hotel, with moorland beyond the roadside buildings.

    From the station: about 0.2 miles (around 5–10 minutes’ walk uphill)519

    How we measure

From the platform

Leave the station through the entrance and climb the approach lane to The Green for the village near The Goathland hotel. The measured route is about 0.2 miles one way; the station and its tea room are the shorter alternative to the uphill village visit.

Access: The approach includes a steep slope and uneven surfaces. Use NYMR’s AccessAble station guide for the ramped route and platform arrangements; the village walk is not level, even when stairs are avoided.

Food and drink

Allow time: Allow 1–2 hours for the station, village and tea room.

Find places to stay in Goathland on Booking.com (opens in a new tab)

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Stop 4

Grosmont

62021421

Choose Grosmont for the engine sheds, the pedestrian tunnel and a walking link to Goathland.

From the station: about 0.25 miles (around 10 minutes’ walk)621

How we measure

Check the next train back before leaving the station

Request stop: No — use a service shown as calling here.14

What is nearby

  • Grosmont engine sheds and Shed Shop — The visitor route passes through the historic George Stephenson pedestrian tunnel to the sheds; the working areas are separate from the public route.

  • Rail Trail to Goathland — Follow the former railway via Beck Hole; from Grosmont the main direction is uphill towards Goathland, with woodland paths that can be wet.

    From the station: 3.5 miles (around 1½–2 hours’ walk to Goathland)6

    How we measure

From the platform

From the platforms, leave towards Front Street and use the signed public foot tunnel opposite the station for the sheds. The mapped visitor walk is about 0.25 miles. For the Rail Trail, follow the Goathland signs via Beck Hole; the published 3.5-mile route is a separate longer outing.

Access: The tunnel route reaches the visitor centre by slopes; AccessAble describes a step-free entrance. Check the approach surfaces and gradients for the visit. The longer Rail Trail has uneven woodland stretches and a climb towards Goathland.

Food and drink

Allow time: Allow 1–2 hours for the sheds and station; allow 3–4 hours if walking to Goathland and returning by train.

Find places to stay in Grosmont on Booking.com (opens in a new tab)

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Stop 5

Whitby

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Finish with the harbour and the climb to Whitby Abbey, keeping the 199 steps separate from the accessible station exit.

From the station: 0.5 miles (around 15 minutes’ walk via the 199 steps)24

How we measure

Check the next train back before leaving the station

Request stop: No — use a service shown as calling here.14

What is nearby

  • Whitby Abbey via the 199 steps — Cross to the old town and climb beside St Mary’s Church for the abbey ruins; the stepped route has resting points.

From the platform

Leave through Station Square, walk along the harbour towards the swing bridge, cross to Church Street and continue to the 199 steps. Follow the steps past St Mary’s Church to the abbey: English Heritage publishes 0.5 miles and about 15 minutes from the station.

Access: National Rail lists step-free platform access at Whitby. The named abbey route is not step-free because it climbs the 199 steps; use English Heritage’s arrival and access information to plan a separate accessible set-down instead of treating this as an accessible walking route.

Food and drink

Allow time: Allow 2–3 hours for the harbour and abbey, with longer for a meal and museum visit.

Find places to stay in Whitby on Booking.com (opens in a new tab)

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Archive and railway views

Community photographs

Historic infrastructure, preserved trains and the landscape around the line.

Browse more on Wikimedia Commons (opens in a new tab)
Pickering → Grosmont → Whitby: North Yorkshire Moors Railway.
View 1 of 8North Yorkshire Moors Railway.Steve Partridge · CC BY-SA 2.0Source and licence (opens in a new tab)
Pickering → Grosmont → Whitby: Trackside scenery on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway
View 2 of 8Trackside scenery on the North Yorkshire Moors RailwayMargaret Clough · CC BY-SA 2.0Source and licence (opens in a new tab)
Pickering → Grosmont → Whitby: North Yorkshire Moors Railway and Eller Beck
View 3 of 8North Yorkshire Moors Railway and Eller BeckChris Heaton · CC BY-SA 2.0Source and licence (opens in a new tab)
Pickering → Grosmont → Whitby: Pickering MMB 01 North Yorkshire Moors Railway (Newbridge level crossing)
View 4 of 8Pickering MMB 01 North Yorkshire Moors Railway (Newbridge level crossing)mattbuck ( category ) · CC BY-SA 3.0Source and licence (opens in a new tab)

Eight route photographs link to their original Wikimedia Commons pages for the creator, licence and reuse terms.

How to get to the North Yorkshire Moors Railway

By train

Pickering’s heritage station has no National Rail connection. From York, Leeds or Manchester, plan rail travel to Malton on the York–Scarborough route, changing where the journey planner directs, then connect by bus to Pickering. For the northern end, take the Esk Valley Line from Middlesbrough to Grosmont or Whitby; the heritage railway and scheduled Northern service use different tickets.272829302

By bus

Coastliner 840 links Malton with Pickering. The operator directs NYMR visitors to the Royal Oak stop on Eastgate, then through the town centre towards Park Street and the heritage terminus. Use the live route page to confirm the selected stop and connection; selected 840 journeys also serve Goathland and Whitby.2931

By car

NYMR publishes station parking at Pickering, Levisham, Goathland and Grosmont. Pickering station is approached from the A170 and A169; use the railway’s parking page for the appropriate station car park and current arrangements. Whitby’s adjacent car parks are separate from NYMR.32

Returning from the far end

For a Pickering–Whitby linear trip, plan a Coastliner 840 journey back towards Pickering or Malton, or a separate Northern train from Whitby along the Esk Valley towards Middlesbrough. An NYMR return only works on a departure that reaches the required station; use the dated heritage timetable before setting out, especially if the car is at Pickering.29313011

Day trip or overnight

Start at Pickering and choose Goathland for the village or Grosmont for locomotive facilities and the junction with the Esk Valley Line. For Whitby, book a heritage service advertised to reach the town; not every train continues there. A Day Rover supports station visits subject to its conditions and the dated timetable. The scheduled Northern service and heritage railway have separate tickets. Leave enough time at Grosmont when transferring between them.1

Accessibility

NYMR's adapted heritage carriages have wider doors, portable ramps, wheelchair space and an accessible toilet. The railway publishes station Access Guides and dimensional and weight limits for wheelchairs and scooters. Use those when choosing the service and intended break, with the booking team helping you arrange the space. Goathland's village is up the bank, so a station visit may be a better choice for some travellers. Enjoying the landscape from the train is a complete outing, with a walk or shed visit kept optional.2

When to go

North Yorkshire Moors Railway operates seasonally or on selected dates in its own calendar. Use the dated operating calendar for the North Yorkshire Moors Railway, including any event-specific timetable and ticket conditions. For North Yorkshire Moors Railway, we would put Levisham Moor into useful daylight, allowing a longer destination pause when the season provides enough light. At Whitby, settle the homeward North Yorkshire Moors Railway service before beginning the planned walk. Any attraction added to the North Yorkshire Moors Railway outing has separate opening arrangements; use North Yorkshire Moors Railway for the railway’s actual operating dates.1

View the railway’s operating calendar

Tickets

The current NYMR range includes Day Rover tickets for hopping on and off standard services, and One Stop Return, Two Stop Return and Three Stop Return fares for shorter outings. Choose the distance and the kind of day before buying. A rover suits a carefully planned station break; a short return can be a better fit for travellers who want a taste of the railway without a complete day of train travel.

The fares page lists an advance booking discount for eligible Day Rovers. Special events have their own arrangements. NYMR also describes a residents' Esk Valley Railcard concession with eligibility conditions; ask the railway which current ticket it applies to, as some information still uses older ticket names. For another Railcard, use the booking team to resolve acceptance before purchase. A separate National Rail journey to Grosmont or Whitby needs its own ticket conditions.782

Photography

Make the station buildings part of your landscape photographs: Pickering's period setting, Goathland's platform and Grosmont's working railway tell the story alongside the valleys. Choose a clear seated view and spend some of the ride simply watching. An accessible carriage, when needed, should be chosen for its facilities. A useful picture is one you can make comfortably without blocking another passenger's view.

Compare sun direction with your date and the section you intend to photograph. There is no fixed sunny-side recommendation for the complete journey. Shade the lens from interior reflections, keep flash off and use a station stop for photographs that need more careful framing. Grosmont's pedestrian tunnel belongs to the optional shed visit, not a promised onboard view. Let dark or enclosed stretches be a pause, with equipment kept clear of doors and circulation space.956210

On board

Plan food around your chosen stop: NYMR lists tearooms at Pickering, Goathland and Grosmont, and onboard buffet bars in its visitor information. A North Yorkshire Pullman dining experience is a separate booking from the standard scenic ride. Organise a station meal or snack as the main refreshment stop, with an onboard purchase where available as an extra. That leaves the viewing parts of the journey free for enjoying the landscape.

Hand luggage is accepted when it fits the overhead rack and does not inconvenience other passengers. Standard services can carry bicycles in the guard's van, but space is limited; discuss a cycling party with the railway before travelling. Accessible heritage coaches provide a toilet as well as wheelchair space and ramps. For any particular train's toilet arrangement, ask when booking. Keep a compact day bag to hand and leave the aisle and adapted accommodation available for their intended use.82956

Frequently asked questions

How long is the North Yorkshire Moors Railway?

Allow at least half a day for a ride with a proper station stop, and more for a return with time in Whitby. There is no single duration for every NYMR outing: the chosen route and dated timetable determine it. Use the service's endpoint and return as the basis for your day's plan.73

Which side is best on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway?

Newton Dale surrounds the winding railway with wooded slopes and rock faces on both sides; after Grosmont, the Esk Valley section changes the river-facing side at crossings. Watch both sides for these successive landscapes.10

Is the North Yorkshire Moors Railway suitable for a day trip?

Yes. Choose a short return, a station day using the Day Rover, or a longer ride with Whitby as the destination. Our preference is one substantial break instead of trying to visit every station. Leave room for a tearoom stop and the return journey you actually want.756

Is the North Yorkshire Moors Railway accessible?

NYMR has adapted heritage carriages with ramps, wheelchair accommodation and an accessible toilet. Use its station Access Guides and contact the team about your service and mobility aid. The train arrangements and an optional village walk are separate decisions, so choose the day that suits both your interests and access needs.2

How do I get to the start of the North Yorkshire Moors Railway?

Take a National Rail train to Malton and connect with Coastliner 840 to Pickering, then walk through the town centre to Park Street. Pickering is a heritage terminus with no National Rail service. Alternatively, reach Grosmont or Whitby by the Esk Valley Line from Middlesbrough and join the heritage railway there.2728293023132

Further reading

Read the route

Chosen for this line, its train type or the wider pleasure of slow rail travel.

Hardback

200 Years of Britain’s Railways in 14 Journeys

by Sherin Aminossehe

An illustrated history told through fourteen journeys—a useful companion for the wider collection.

View physical book (opens in a new tab)

Sources

(32)

Further reading

  1. 1North Yorkshire Moors Railway - NYMR (opens in a new tab)
  2. 2NYMR: Accessibility Information | North Yorkshire Moors Railway (opens in a new tab)
  3. 3North York Moors National Park: North Yorkshire Moors Railway | NYMNP (opens in a new tab)
  4. 4North Yorkshire Moors Railway | Visit North Yorkshire (opens in a new tab)
  5. 5Goathland Station Yorkshire | NYMR (opens in a new tab)
  6. 6Grosmont Heritage Station | NYMR (opens in a new tab)
  7. 7Railway Ticket Fares | NYMR (opens in a new tab)
  8. 8Railway Information and FAQs | NYMR (opens in a new tab)
  9. 9Pickering Heritage Station | NYMR (opens in a new tab)
  10. 10OpenStreetMap: Route map (54.319, -0.719) (opens in a new tab)
  11. 11Train Timetable Yorkshire | NYMR (opens in a new tab)
  12. 12Directions to Pickering Castle | English Heritage (opens in a new tab)
  13. 13Access at Pickering Castle | English Heritage (opens in a new tab)
  14. 14Railway Route Map | NYMR (opens in a new tab)
  15. 15Levisham Heritage Station | NYMR (opens in a new tab)
  16. 16HOME :: The Horseshoe Inn, Levisham - Country Pub with Rooms (opens in a new tab)
  17. 17OpenStreetMap: Levisham village and The Horseshoe Inn (opens in a new tab)
  18. 18AccessAble - Your Accessibility Guide (opens in a new tab)
  19. 19OpenStreetMap: Goathland village (opens in a new tab)
  20. 20AccessAble - Your Accessibility Guide — north yorkshire moors railway grosmont station visitor attraction centre (opens in a new tab)
  21. 21OpenStreetMap: Grosmont engine sheds and Shed Shop (opens in a new tab)
  22. 22Whitby Station Heritage Railway | NYMR (opens in a new tab)
  23. 23Whitby Station | National Rail (opens in a new tab)
  24. 24Whitby Abbey Directions | English Heritage (opens in a new tab)
  25. 25Botham's Baxtergate Tea Room & Shop | Visit North Yorkshire (opens in a new tab)
  26. 26Visit Whitby: Botham's of Whitby | Visit Whitby.com (opens in a new tab)
  27. 27TransPennine Express: Malton Train Station | Times & Information (opens in a new tab)
  28. 28Journey Planner | Official Train Ticket Info | National Rail (opens in a new tab)
  29. 29Coastliner: North Yorkshire Moors Railway - Transdev Bus (opens in a new tab)
  30. 30Esk Valley Railway: Official route information (opens in a new tab)
  31. 31Coastliner 840 - Leeds to York, Malton, Whitby & Scarborough | Transdev Bus (opens in a new tab)
  32. 32NYMR: Parking Information | North Yorkshire Moors Railway (opens in a new tab)

Official planning

Plan your journey

Book with the railway, or use National Rail to put your journey together.

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Find places to stay in Whitby on Booking.com (opens in a new tab) Book your tickets with the railway (opens in a new tab) Open North Yorkshire Moors Railway - NYMR (opens in a new tab)

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