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The Tornado steam train on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway line near Goathland. Photo by Paul Jackson. |
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In the middle of the North York Moors National Park, between Pickering and Whitby is the lovely village of Goathland. Unlike many of the villages on the Moors, it does not take shelter in the deep sides of the valley, it sits out on its own on the moorland, surrounded by heather-clad hillsides. The village has an individual character, with very few modern developments, which is probably one of the reasons it was chosen as the village of 'Aidensfield' in the television series 'Heartbeat'. Because of this, Goathland is probably the most recognisable and most visited village on the North York Moors. In the summer months, it attracts bus loads of tourists daily, who want to visit the 'Aidensfield Arms' (Goathland Hotel), the garage and other 'Heartbeat' sites.
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The village train station also draws in its fair share of visitors, who enjoy the delights of stepping back in time to take a steam train journey on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway. As well as featuring occasionally in 'Heartbeat', the station also has another claim to fame – it was Hogwarts Station in the Harry Potter films, but being on the North Yokshire Moors Railway line is enough to attract visitors on its own. It is a wonderful steam railway that has been preserved and run by enthusiasts since 1973 and is the perfect way to enjoy the stunning scenery of this part of the National Park.
If you'd rather explore on foot, Goathland is an ideal starting point for many scenic walks. A nice circular walk, approx 3 miles (5 km), is from the main car park in Goathland, to Mallyan Spout, then through the wooded valley of West Beck, to the village of Beck Hole and back round to Goathland. The waterfalls at Mallyan Spout are the most famous waterfalls in the Moors, standing at 70ft (21m), and are worth the short walk out the back of the village to. Another good walk is to follow the 3.5 miles (5.5 km) of footpath along the disused railway line between Goathland and Grosmont, known as the Rail Trail. The original line was constructed by George Stephenson himself. From Goathland, there are also well-worn paths to Darnholm and the Roman road.
The Roman Road, or 'Wade's Causeway' runs from the escarpment north of Pickering, to Grosmont. Although it is known as the Roman Road, it may actually be medieval, as there are a few things that aren't quite consistent with typical roman roads. It does run close to Cawthorn Camps though (4 miles north of Pickering), which was a Roman military complex. The site of the camp is well worth a visit. It includes three military fortifications, the defensive banks and ditches of which are still visible. To walk all around the site is a 1 mile walk. The Roman Road also runs through a Roman fort at Lease Rigg near Grosmont.
Only 1 mile (1.5 km) north of Goathland is the picturesque hamlet of Darnholm. The North York Moors Railway passes through here, but if you're on foot, you should tackle the stepping stones over the stream.
So, whether you are a fan of Heartbeat, Harry Potter, steam trains or simply walking through some spectacular landscape, there is plenty to explore in and around Goathland.
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