Monday 21st February 2000
Today's walk: Grosmont - Goathland (and back)
Today's walk starts at Grosmont Railway Station
The village of Grosmont consisted of little more than a few farms in the early 19th Century but with the coming of the railway from Whitby to Pickering things began to change rapidly. George Stephenson surveyed the land in 1835 and when navvies were digging the tunnel south of the village they struck rich deposits of iron ore - so the village became an important railway junction and an ironstone mining centre. The first rail trains were horse drawn until they were replaced by steam in 1847
Grosmont Railway Station is nowadays a very popular tourist attraction. Members of the North York Moors Railway association have beautifully restored steam trains and carriages over the years and the trains now run at regular intervals in the summer carrying passengers on the very picturesque 17 mile route from here to Pickering. This year's timetable starts on 1st April
Our walk takes us south of Grosmont and over the railway bridge where we can look back to the village . . .
before joining the Goathland Rail Trail
This easy going trail is suitable for all the family and follows the route of the original track built by George Stephenson in 1836 . .
. . . with safe footbridges . . .
. . . crossing the Murk Esk several times
After 3 miles easy walking we reach the village of Goathland with its wide grass verges grazed by sheep
Goathland is known better in many parts of the globe as 'Aidensfield' from the popular TV series 'Heartbeat' . . .
. . . several familiar film locations are dotted round the village
Our return journey takes us away from Goathland . . .
. . . past the picturesque hamlet of Beck Hole . . .
. . . with good views across the Murk Esk Valley to the village of Egton seen on the horizon
The final leg of the walk takes us through Crag Cliff Wood before reaching our starting point at Grosmont
The return journey between Green End and the early stages of Crag Cliff Wood can be very muddy and slippery as it was today so it's sometimes best to return the way you came! The walk through the woods is highly recommended though after a dry spell of weather, especially in May when the floor is carpeted with thousands of bluebells
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