Yorkshire Moors

Walks

Esk Valley to Grosmont

The walk for a day when you would rather not walk back. Follow the river inland from the coast to Grosmont and come back by train, or do it the other way round and walk with the water. Mostly level, with shade and water along the river the whole way.

The route in outline

Follow the river inland and come back by train, or take the train out and walk back down the valley. It is mostly level, with shade and water along the river. That is the honest extent of what this site can tell you about the line of the route: I have not walked it myself yet, and I am not going to invent the turns. Carry the OS sheet and check the train times before you commit to a one-way day.

The train half

Grosmont is the working heart of the North Yorkshire Moors Railway, where you can watch the locomotives being turned, and it sits on the Esk Valley line too. Services are seasonal on the heritage railway, so confirm what is running before you plan a walk around catching one.

Walking it with a dog

A good one for dogs: mostly level, with shade and water along the river. Dogs travel free on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway, though space is limited, so aim for a quieter service. More in our dog-friendly guide.

Esk Valley to Grosmont walk FAQs

Can you walk one way and come back by train?

Yes, that is the point of this one. Follow the river inland and return by train, or take the train out and walk back.

Is the Esk Valley walk hilly?

It is mostly level, following the river, with shade and water along the way.

Can dogs travel on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway?

Yes, dogs travel free on the railway, though space is limited, so it is worth planning around a quieter service.

More North York Moors questions? See the full FAQ →

Top answers for the Yorkshire Moors

All questions in the full FAQ hub →

Quick, straight answers to the questions visitors ask most. Each one links through to the fuller guide.

What are the best easy or family-friendly walks?

The Farndale daffodil walk (spring), the level paths around Sutton Bank and the Kilburn White Horse, the Goathland-to-Grosmont rail trail, and gentle riverside strolls at Thornton-le-Dale.

Walks on the moors →

Where is the Kilburn White Horse, and what are the famous landmarks?

The Kilburn White Horse, cut in 1857 below Sutton Bank, is England's most northerly hill figure; other landmarks include Captain Cook's Monument, the Bridestones, Ralph Cross (the park's symbol) and the Wainstones.

Walks on the moors →

What are the Hole of Horcum, Roseberry Topping and the Cleveland Way?

The Hole of Horcum is a vast natural amphitheatre about 400 ft deep off the A169; Roseberry Topping is the distinctive 320 m "Yorkshire Matterhorn" near Great Ayton; the Cleveland Way is the 109-mile National Trail looping from Helmsley around the moors to the coast.

Walks on the moors →

Are the North York Moors good for walking, and where are the best walks?

Outstanding, over 1,400 miles of paths, from the 109-mile Cleveland Way (Helmsley to Filey) to countless short circuits. Classics include the Hole of Horcum, Roseberry Topping, Mallyan Spout at Goathland and the Helmsley–Rievaulx Abbey walk.

Walks on the moors →

What is the highest point in the North York Moors?

Round Hill on Urra Moor, at 454 metres (1,490 feet). It sits on the Cleveland Way and the Lyke Wake Walk above Bilsdale, and the usual approach is the roughly three-kilometre climb from the Clay Bank car park.

Walks on the moors →

When does the heather bloom on the North York Moors?

Typically mid-August to early September, when the moors turn a spectacular purple; the Hole of Horcum and the high moor roads are classic viewing spots. Exact timing shifts a little year to year with the weather.

Walks on the moors →