This has to be one of the highlights of our summer holidays! We took the 11am train from Pickering. Both Henry and Eliza were really excited when the steam train pulled into the station. The carriages are so spacious and with so much pretty detail including mirrors for the vain! We settled back and enjoyed the beautiful views and a game of Uno! The North York Moors National Park looked fabulous with the heather in flower – we certainly had chosen a good day for it.
The kids loved the train and found it really exciting. Henry’s favourite bit was when the track curved and you could pop your head out the window to see the train curving round in front of you.
Levisham Station dates back to 1912 and is not far from Pickering. There is a tea hut at weekends, during events and bank holidays.
The scenery was amazing and there is an option to stop at the Newton Dale Halt – a station only reached by train, bike or on foot, so a great place to see wildlife.
Our train didn’t go all the way to Whitby so we had decided to get off at Goathland and enjoy a walk. This is no problem as you can get on and off as many times as you wish on the way. The walk was brilliant and perfect for both kids. Please do read our blog about the walk detailed by “Making Tracks” for Walking-Books.com here. Added excitement of seeing the steam train pass through! It was a 3 mile walk and both kids coped beautifully, albeit Henry did fall in a stream! Goathland is home to the legendary “Heartbeat” so there is loads to explore here.
We had lunch in Goathland Station but there were other options in the village. From Goathland you can explore the North York Moors National Park or take the Rail Trail back to Grosmont or to the Mallyan Spout Waterfall. We then caught the 13.50 to Whitby – the John and June Wedding Express! The couple had married in Pickering and we briefly stopped at Grosmont for them to have some photographs.
The Station Tea Room in Goathland was a big hit with Charlie (Dad), lovely food, great value and a nice place with the option of benches outside on the station.
Grosmont Station dates back to 1952. It is home to the operating and engineering world of the railway. It is also here, you go through a tunnel on a train causing the train to be in complete darkness – both kids loved this with a bit of “who killed the lights”?! At Grosmont the heritage railway ends and the main rail network begins, connecting both Middlesborough and Whitby to the NYMR and the Esk Valley Line.
Once in Whitby, we made a bee line for the beach and amusements before buying fish and chips. The station is right in the centre so is great for little legs and you are in the centre of the action as soon as you step of the train. We caught the 6pm train home, seeing the sun beginning to set. It was a great day. There is loads more to explore in Whitby including the Whitby Abbey, Captain Cook Memorial Museum, the Dracula Experience, the lovely town and harbour plus much more….for another day.
Pickering Station is again in the centre of the town so you can easily come from the Whitby end and explore Pickering, have some lunch, perhaps go to the Beck Isle Museum or Pickering Castle and go back, stopping as you go. If the weather isn’t so good at Whitby, this is a great day out to enjoy.
Our tickets were supplied by the North Yorkshire Moors Railway. Our opinions are solely our own and we had a great time.
For more information, visit the North Yorkshire Moors Railway website here Tickets for the Santa Specials 2018 are now on sale.
