Getting here and getting around
The Esk Valley is one of the few parts of the national park you can properly explore without a car. The railway runs the length of the valley, and most villages are a short walk from a station.
By train: the Esk Valley Railway
Northern runs the Esk Valley line between Middlesbrough and Whitby, calling at Battersby, Kildale, Commondale, Castleton Moor, Danby, Lealholm, Glaisdale, Egton, Grosmont, Sleights and Ruswarp. The journey from Middlesbrough to Whitby takes around an hour and a half, and services are infrequent (typically four or five a day each way), so check times before you set out and plan connections carefully. Middlesbrough connects to Darlington on the East Coast Main Line, York and Newcastle.
- Northern for timetables and tickets.
- Esk Valley Railway Development Company for line news, the community rail partnership and walk leaflets.
- Some stations are request stops: tell the conductor where you want to get off, and signal clearly to the driver when boarding.
By steam: the North Yorkshire Moors Railway
The North Yorkshire Moors Railway runs heritage steam and diesel trains between Pickering, Levisham, Goathland and Grosmont, with many services continuing along the Esk Valley line to Whitby. It is a seasonal railway with its own fares, so check the running days before you travel.
By bus
Bus services in the valley itself are limited. Whitby is well served, with Arriva's X93 and X94 along the coast from Middlesbrough and Scarborough, and the Coastliner 840 from Leeds, York and Pickering, which passes through Goathland and Sleights. Check North Yorkshire Council or Traveline for current routes.
By car
The A171 (Whitby to Guisborough) runs along the northern edge of the valley and the A169 (Whitby to Pickering) along the southern side. Minor roads into the villages are narrow, steep in places and shared with sheep, cyclists and walkers. Parking is limited in the smaller villages: use the car parks at The Moors National Park Centre in Danby, Grosmont, Goathland and Whitby's park-and-ride, and never block field gates or passing places. Some routes, notably the road through Egton Bridge and the hill out of Grosmont, are very steep; take care in winter.
By bike
The lanes on either side of the river make for excellent cycling, though hills are steep and frequent. The Cinder Track, a traffic-free route on the old railway line, links Whitby with Scarborough. Bikes can be carried on Esk Valley trains, space permitting.
Accessibility
Station facilities vary: some have step-free access to the platform, others have steps or steep ramps. Check the station pages on National Rail before you travel. The Moors National Park Centre in Danby has accessible paths, toilets and parking.