Walking the Cinder Path to Whitby

From 1885 until 1965, there was a railway 🛤 line between Scarborough and Whitby. It transported goods and passengers up and down the North Yorkshire coast. When it closed, Scarborough Borough Council bought the line. It now forms a 21.5-mile section of Route 1 of the National Cycle Network. Because the track ballast was made from cinders rather than crushed stone, locals refer to it as the 'cinder track'.

The track runs through Hawsker, where our site is. Today was the first opportunity we've had to walk it into Whitby. It took about an hour and a half. There was plenty to keep us interested on the way, not least crossing the 36.5 metre high, 13-span Larpool Viaduct. We now need to find another path which takes us across the valley floor so that we can get a better view of it.

We also passed a quirky honesty tuck box. There was nothing for us to buy on a chilly winter's morning, but I bet they do a roaring trade with walkers in the summer!Read more