Grosmont

Where it is, and getting there

Grosmont sits in the Esk Valley about six miles inland from Whitby, reached by narrow moor roads over Sleights Moor or along the valley. The clever way in is by rail: the village is a stop on the Esk Valley line from Middlesbrough to Whitby, and the northern terminus of the North Yorkshire Moors Railway from Pickering, with NYMR services also running through to Whitby in season.

The engine sheds

This is the working heart of the preserved railway. Behind the station, reached through the original 1836 tunnel, built for horse-drawn trains and now a footpath, lies the motive power depot, where locomotives are coaled, watered, turned and overhauled. A public viewing area looks down over the yard, and on a good day you will see three or four engines in steam and one in pieces.

For families this is often better than the train ride itself: no timetable to catch, and the noise, smell and scale of it up close. Check the railway's current access arrangements and any charges on the day, and time a visit around one of the steam galas if you want the full cast.

The Rail Trail to Goathland

The Rail Trail follows George Stephenson's original 1836 alignment for about 3.5 miles from Grosmont up to Goathland, past the cottages at Esk Valley and through woodland, with the modern steam line alongside for much of the way. It climbs steadily but never steeply, and it is the classic here: walk up, and come back down behind a locomotive.

At the Goathland end you land in Heartbeat's Aidensfield and Harry Potter's Hogsmeade station, with Mallyan Spout waterfall a short walk further on. More routes in our walks section.

Coast to Coast country

Grosmont is a scheduled overnight on the Coast to Coast Path, which became a National Trail in March 2026: walkers come down off Blakey Ridge through Glaisdale and Egton Bridge and face the climb over Sleights Moor to Littlebeck the next morning. Expect boots and rucksacks in the pub from spring to autumn, and beds to be tight in high summer.

The village

Grosmont grew out of ironstone and the railway that carried it, its terraces and chapel are industrial, not picturesque, and it is the more interesting for it. There is a co-op, a tea room, a pub and a level crossing that stops the main street several times an hour. The River Esk below the village is one of the best sea-trout and salmon rivers in Yorkshire.

Dogs are welcome on the railway and in most of the village; keep them under close control around the crossing and the yard. See our dog-friendly guide.

Grosmont FAQs

What is there to do at Grosmont?

Watch the locomotives. Grosmont is the northern terminus and engineering heart of the North Yorkshire Moors Railway, with a viewing area over the running shed where engines are coaled, watered and repaired. Add the Rail Trail walk to Goathland, the 1836 horse-drawn tunnel, a couple of cafes and the Esk Valley trains.

Can you walk from Grosmont to Goathland?

Yes, the Rail Trail is about 3.5 miles along the original 1836 railway alignment, climbing steadily beside the steam line through Esk Valley cottages and woodland. Most people walk it one way and take the train back, which is the best-value ticket on the railway.

Do you need a ticket to see the engine shed at Grosmont?

There is a public viewing area over the motive power depot reached through the old 1836 tunnel from the station, and access arrangements and any charge can vary. Check the NYMR's current information on the day. Timetabled shed tours and gala events are ticketed separately.

Can you get to Grosmont by ordinary train?

Yes. Grosmont is on the Esk Valley line between Middlesbrough and Whitby, so it is one of the few places where a mainline service and a preserved steam railway share a platform. That makes a car-free day out, train in, steam train to Pickering, bus or train back, entirely practical.

Where do you park in Grosmont?

There is a car park by the station and limited on-street space in the village, and both fill quickly on gala weekends and through the school holidays. Arriving by train from Whitby or Pickering removes the problem altogether.