Route of the Esk Valley Railway

Great Ayton

Whilst on the train between Nunthorpe and Great Ayton, look out for the striking views of Roseberry Topping which, 1056 feet high, towers over the landscape. Scandinavian settlers called it "Othenesberg", meaning Odin's Hill. The unique shape is due to a landslip, as a direct result of the extraction of minerals. It was also used as a beacon hill, where a fire would be lit to warn of invasion. Views of Middlesbrough to the North-West and the surrounding moorland can be appreciated after walking to the top.

Dating back to the Middle Ages, Great Ayton was a centre of industrial activity, such as linen-making, tanning and brewing, long before the Industrial Revolution, when the mining of whinstone (a hard igneous rock used in road-making), ironstone, alum and jet came to predominate. These latter activities were serviced by the Esk Valley Railway.  Nowadays most of Great Ayton's residents commute to work in Middlesbrough, many of them using the train. The village is also a good base for exploring the nearby North Yorkshire Moors.

Captain Cook Schoolroom Museum

101 High Street, Great Ayton, North Yorkshire TS9 6NB
James Cook, the world's most famous navigator and explorer, spent his boyhood in this village, attending the Postgate School here. That building now houses the Captain Cook Schoolroom Museum. The cottage – probably built by his father – in which he lived was dismantled in 1934 and now stands in Fitzroy Park, Melbourne, Australia.  In its place is an obelisk built of stone taken from Point Hicks in that country. A monument to James Cook has been erected high above on Easby Moor. Each year, on or near his birthday (27th October), there is a Captain Cook Day, when local children race model boats in the river.
Find out more about the Captain Cook Schoolroom Museum

Stokesley Show

Held on the Saturday following the third Thursday in September each year since 1859. www.stokesleyshow.co.uk

Sample fares from Great Ayton   With EVR Railcard discount
Day Return to Whitby £9.60
£6.35
Day Return to Middlesbrough £4.20
£2.80
Duo Return Ticket to Middlesbrough (two adults travelling together) £6.30  

Journey times from Great Ayton  
To Whitby 70 minutes
To Middlesbrough 20 minutes

Bookmark and Share Bookmark    |    print    |    

Train times from Great Ayton (9.12.12 to 18.05.13)


 
Monday to Saturday
From Sunday 31 March 2013
M'brough dep 0704 1038 1416 1740 0845 1105 1343 1624
Great Ayton dep 0723 1055 1433 1757 0903 1124 1403 1644
Whitby arr 0838 1205 1543 1907 1012 1234 1513 1754
                 
Whitby dep 0850 1241 1600 1915 1025 1244 1525 1805
Great Ayton dep 0956 1347 1709 2021 1144 1350 1631 1911
M'brough arr 1017 1407 1730 2041 1203 1413 1651 1930

Train times from Great Ayton (19.05.13 to 7.12.13)


 
Monday to Saturday
*
Sundays 19.05.13 to 3.11.13
M'brough dep 0704 1038 1416 1740 2044 0845 1105 1343 1624
Great Ayton dep 0723 1055 1433 1757 2101 0903 1124 1404 1645
Whitby arr 0838 1205 1543 1907 2211 1015 1235 1513 1754
             
Whitby dep 0850 1241 1600 1915 2225 1025 1244 1525 1805
Great Ayton dep 0956 1347 1709 2021 2331 1144 1350 1631 1911
M'brough arr 1017 1407 1730 2041 2351 1203 1414 1651 1931
* Only runs Fridays 5 July to 30 August, also Monday 12 August and Friday 1 November

 

Travel the route: follow the links to find out about the stations
« Middlesbrough | travel east – towards the sea | travel west – inland | Whitby »
© 2009-13 Esk Valley Railway Development Company
The Coliseum, Victoria Place, Whitby, North Yorkshire, YO21 1EZ
Telephone: 01947 601987
Email: enquiries@eskvalleyrailway.co.uk

Northern Rail logo