If you fancy discovering the beauty of North Yorkshire from a whole new perspective, hop on board and take a journey along the Esk Valley Railway.
We love nothing more than the journey along the Esk Valley Railway. It’s an unforgettable way to explore the stunning landscapes of North Yorkshire. Hop on board and journey through some of the UK’s most picturesque and unspoilt countryside.
The Esk Valley Railway
Take the 90-minute journey over 35 miles from Middlesbrough to Whitby. You’ll stop at 17 pretty village stations, including Grosmont and Danby. From Grosmont you can catch a steam train, and Danby boasts the Danby Lodge National Park Centre. If you’re a cyclist, walker, or rail enthusiast, the Esk Valley Railway is a great way to enjoy the area. It boasts links to popular routes like the Cleveland Way and the Whitby to Danby Cycling Route. It’s easy to connect with other activities.
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The Forget Me Not Train
The Forget Me Not Train is a service by the Esk Valley Railway. Lisa, the wife of Community Rail Partnership’s founder, Lan, brought up the idea. For a service that can accommodate people with dementia. The Forget Me Not Train provides opportunities for people to get out and enjoy the beautiful countryside.
Passengers can bring a picnic and enjoy the music provided. Dementia UK has said music can help people, and this is something they have witnessed first-hand. One of the unique aspects of this train journey is that passengers can choose how long they want to ride. They can join at any station along the way. This makes it easy to adjust plans if they feel the entire return journey is too long.
Timetable and how to buy tickets
You can purchase a ticket at any station from anywhere on the National Rail Network. You can buy your ticket there if the station is staffed or has a Ticket Vending Machine (TVM). However, if no staff or TVM is available, you can buy your ticket from the conductor on the train. Dogs and bikes are allowed free of charge, but there’s a limit of two bikes per train.
You can catch a train any day of the year except for Christmas Day, Boxing Day, and New Year’s Day. However, the Sunday service has a different timetable and is available all year round. There are also trains and connections between the Durham Coast, Bishop Auckland, the Esk Valley, and Whitby, as well as between Darlington and the Esk Valley and Whitby.
You can buy tickets and find further information here.
The Esk Valley Railway featured on TV
TV baking star and author David Atherton journeys through the North York Moors National Park in his latest slow travel film series. David, who won Channel 4’s Great British Bake Off series in 2019, takes viewers on a tour of the region’s picturesque villages, home to tea rooms and bakeries serving delicious treats.
In this episode, David starts his adventure in Great Ayton and hops aboard the Esk Valley Railway. He stops at Glaisdale and discovers a hidden gem called Bev and Bob’s Brew; an organic tea garden nestled amidst two acres of lush greenery. David also strolls along the Esk Valley Walk before returning to his hometown of Ruswarp.
The Esk Valley Railway offers a convenient and reliable mode of transportation. If you’re looking to explore the scenic beauty of the North York Moors National Park. Hop on board and journey along the Esk Valley Railway to discover the stunning landscapes and charming towns of the North Yorkshire region.
Header image credit: The joy of all things, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
