Cycling
The Cinder Track
By Jon Cosson · Updated 2 November 2026 · Checked
Twenty-one miles of old railway between Scarborough and Whitby, traffic-free almost the whole way and gently graded because trains do not like hills. It is the biggest traffic-free asset on this coast and the easiest way to ride between the two towns without meeting a car.
The Cinder Track at a glance
- Type of riding
- Traffic-free path
- Distance
- 21 miles, Scarborough to Whitby
- Traffic-free
- Yes
- Bike
- Family or hybrid
- Start
- Scarborough or Whitby, or any point along the old line
- Also worth knowing
- Passes through Ravenscar, roughly five miles from Robin Hood's Bay and eleven from Scarborough.
Compiled from the published information and sources listed on this site. Check current route and surface conditions before travelling.
Checked against published information on 18 September 2026. Confirm parking charges, trail status and hire before you travel.
Route at a glance
About 21 miles follow the old Scarborough to Whitby railway line, which closed in 1965. The route is part of National Cycle Network Route 1.
From south to north, the key points are Scarborough, Cloughton and Hayburn Wyke, with a detour to the woodland, cove and waterfall. Next is Ravenscar, the highest point at about 631 feet, then Robin Hood's Bay and Hawsker. Larpool Viaduct leads into Whitby. This 13-arch brick viaduct stands about 120 feet above the River Esk.
The surface varies. The stretch between Ravenscar and Robin Hood's Bay is the roughest and can be muddy after rain. It improves between Hawsker and Whitby.
Where it runs
The track follows the course of the old Scarborough to Whitby railway for 21 miles along the coast, passing through Ravenscar on the way. From Ravenscar it is roughly five miles to Robin Hood's Bay and eleven to Scarborough. These distances can help when planning a shorter section. Carry the OS sheet if you are heading off the line, and check current surface conditions.
Who it suits
Largely traffic-free and gently graded according to the published route information. It can form a return leg for coastal circuits: the Robin Hood's Bay circular from Ravenscar, which goes out along the Cleveland Way cliffs and comes back along the track, and the walk south from Whitby to Bay Town, where the track is the flat, shaded way home. Dogs do well on it, for the same reasons. The route is also on the National Park's list of accessible places, which our guide to accessible days out explains along with the rest of the park. Riders use the track too: horses have every bit as much right on the old railway as boots and bikes, and our guide to horse riding in the North York Moors covers the rest of the bridleway network.
Getting on and off it
Ravenscar is a signed turn off the A171 Whitby to Scarborough road and ends in a dead end at the headland, so there is no through traffic to contend with. Whitby, Robin Hood's Bay and Scarborough all sit at or near the ends of the line, and the track links them without a car, which is worth knowing if you would rather ride one way and travel back.
Bikes and hire
This site does not list a hire operator on the track itself. The bike shops we do write up are inland, on the A170: Big Bear Bikes in Pickering and Northern Ride in Malton, both covered on our cycling page. Check hire and opening directly with them.
Cinder Track FAQs
How long is the Cinder Track?
21 miles, running between Scarborough and Whitby along the old railway line.
Is the Cinder Track traffic-free?
Yes. It follows the former Scarborough to Whitby railway, so it is largely traffic-free and gently graded, which is what makes it one of the best family routes in the area.
Does the Cinder Track go through Ravenscar?
It does. Ravenscar sits on both the Cinder Track and the Cleveland Way, roughly five miles from Robin Hood's Bay and eleven from Scarborough.
Can you walk the Cinder Track as well as ride it?
Yes, and plenty of people do. It is the level return leg of the Robin Hood's Bay circular from Ravenscar, and the flat, shaded way back from Bay Town to Whitby.
Is the Cinder Track good with a dog?
It is one of the routes we point dog owners at, flat and shaded, and it is named as a best dog walk on our Whitby and coast pages.
Route overview expanded from supplied source notes on 18 October 2026: The Whitby Guide and Willcycle.
Stay on the line
Whitby, Robin Hood's Bay, Ravenscar and Scarborough all sit on or beside the track, so you can ride a section and walk back to your bed.
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