North Yorkshire Moors Railway
About
The heritage railway that runs steam and heritage diesel trains between Pickering and Grosmont across the moors, and then on down the Esk valley into Whitby's own station, sharing the national-network line for the last stretch. That last detail is what makes it worth doing from here rather than from Pickering: you board a steam train in the middle of a working seaside town, not at a preserved terminus in a field. The run climbs out of the Esk valley into Newtondale and the high moor, which is a completely different landscape from the coast half an hour behind you. Services are seasonal and the timetable is not daily all year, so check before building a day around it.
Photos
Highlights
- ✓Boarding a steam train at Whitby's own station rather than at a preserved terminus
- ✓The Esk valley to Grosmont, then the climb over the moors toward Pickering
- ✓Goathland station, familiar to a generation from television
- ✓Day Rover tickets for hopping on and off along the line
Tips
- →Services into Whitby are seasonal and not daily all year. Download the current timetable from the railway's own site before planning a day around it.
- →Whitby services depend on Bridge 42 at Grosmont, which carries every NYMR train over the Murk Esk. The railway propped the bridge for the 2026 season but the work overran: the season opened on 28 March 2026 running a reduced timetable between Pickering and Goathland only, and the railway said the work needed to resume services over the bridge would not be finished until 2 May 2026. A full repair programme is scheduled for the winter of 2026 to 2027, so check the railway's timetable before building a day around it.
- →Whitby is the eastern end of the run; Grosmont is the junction where the heritage line proper begins.
- →Day Rover tickets are the sensible buy if you want to stop at Goathland or Levisham on the way.
- →The Esk Valley line's ordinary Northern service uses the same platforms, so read the departure board carefully.
Best Season
More Experience Activities
Whitby Coastal Cruises
Short harbour and coastal trips on the yellow boats from Brewery Steps, from £5 for 20 minutes with no booking needed.
Bark Endeavour Whitby
Harbour pleasure trips on a replica of Cook's Endeavour, leaving from the harbourside on Pier Road.
Whitby Walks Ghost Walk
A 75-minute ghost walk from the Whale Bone Arch at 19:00. No booking; you turn up. £7 adults, £4 children under 12.