Goathland Walks
Darnholm.
Starting from the centre of the village, walk along Beck Hole Road for .3 mile, passing the school, until reaching a crossroad. Turn right onto Darnholm road and follow the road until it reaches the beck. Note that the route involves some very steep gradients, particularly as it nears the beck.
At the bottom of the road, there are two ways to cross the beck.
The first is to follow the road across the ford, using the stepping stones if necessary, after which the path continues with an immediate right turn (2). If the road is submerged by water, an alternative route can be found on the right shortly before reaching the ford (1), and leads to a footbridge.
The path continues parallel to the railway line before reaching a set of steps to the top of a hill alongside the track (3). As the steps are uneven, care should be taken when climbing them.
Once at the top, continue on the path which runs to the left of a bank alongside the stone wall, before descending on a stoney track down towards the station (4).
If no trains are due into the station, the railway can be crossed using the crossing at the end of the platform. Once across the railway line, exit the station and head straight on the road out of the station which leads back to the centre of the village.
Mallyan Spout.
The Mallyan Spout is one of Goathland's most famous and popular attractions, with many people carrying out a walk to see the waterfall. However, whilst the distance of the walk is relatively short, it does involve scrambling over rocks in order to get to the waterfall and as such, appropriate footwear is strongly recommended. The route can be particularly treacherous in wet weather, when extra care should be taken.
From the village, head along the main road in the direction of St Mary's church. On reaching the church (1), cross the road and follow a footpath which passes along the right hand side of the Mallyan Spout hotel.
The path is almost continuously downhill, and involves sections of steps before arriving alongside the beck, where a signpost indicates that the waterfall is accessed by a path to the left (2). As the path advances, it becomes more uneven, with a number of rocks necessary to climb over before reaching the waterfall.
To get back to the village, the return path can involve the same route in reverse, or to extend slightly and transform the route into a circular trail, walk past the path up to the road, and continue along a path which ultimately leads to the rail trail.
For around three-quarters of a mile, the path is rarely flat, with frequent sections of short ascents and descents, concluding with a path down a set of steps shortly before reaching the rail trail.
On reaching Incline Cottage, turn right to return to Goathland (3) and follow the path. When reaching a section where a road crosses the footpath (4), the journey back to Goathland can be completed either by continuing straight on and arriving near the car park, or taking a right turn and walking up the hill to arrive into the opposite side of the village.
Grosmont station.
The walk from Goathland to Grosmont is a popular one among visitors to the area. It is generally quite accessible, although involves a short ascent when nearing arrival at Grosmont.
From the centre of Goathland village (1), head onto Beck Hole Road, and after passing the car park, turn left at the gates which lead onto the 'rail trail' public footpath. Once on the path, continue for 2.5 miles.
After passing a small group of homes at Esk Valley, a gravel track takes the path alongside the railway line.
Once arriving at a large gate preventing further progress, the footpath continues via a gate on the left (2), and along a short section on flat terrain before the path ascends up a hill, partially via a set of steps. At the top of the steps is a viewpoint overlooking the Grosmont engine shed (3).
On reaching the next gate, Grosmont station will be visible from the top of the hill (4). To continue the route into the station, turn right, and then go through a further gate on the left to begin the short - but steep - descent into the village, passing St Matthew's church to the right.
For those wishing to exprience a ride on one of the region's steam engines, there's always the option to walk the route one way, and jump on a train back to Goathland for the return leg of the journey*! (*Check timetables for information on services.)
Beck Hole & Moors.
From the main car park, head along Beck Hole Road until reaching the gates to the rail trail public footpath on the left. Continue on the path for around 1 mile, and shortly after passing Incline Cottage, take a right turn (1) and go through the two gates on the path leading into Beck Hole.
Turn left and after crossing the bridge (2), continue on the road as it ascends around a series of tight bends and before crossing the railway line. At this junction, turn right (3), and after reaching the cottages, continue to the right to stay on the footpath across the moors.
The path heads towards a farm on the right. At the point in which the path splits, take the path which bears slightly to the right (4) and down towards the railway bridge.
After crossing a footbridge over the beck - and under the railway which runs overhead, the path continues upwards via a set of steps and a styal on the left at the top of the steps.
Once climbing the styal, head straight, along the perimeter fence of a neighbouring field, over a second styal and through a narrow section enclosed by trees/hedges on each side. The road at the end of this section of the route is Beck Hole road, at which point turn left and follow the road back to the village.
Thomason Foss.
From the village of Goathland, the shortest way to Thomason Foss involves either walking down Beck Hole Road, or via the rail trail (1). The guidance provided in the directions detailed is based on using the road on the outbound waslk, and the rail trail for the way back.
The route to Thomason Foss from Goathland is a straightforward one, but as with the path to the Mallyan Spout waterfall, there are some rocky sections which some people may find challanging, and for which anyone attempting the walk should wear footwear suitable for off-road hiking.
From Goathland village, head down Beck Hole Road and continue for approximately one mile. The road is mostly downhill, and the final approach into Beck Holve involves a couple of bends at a very steep gradient. On arriving in Beck Hole, cross the bridge over the beck, and signposted on the right (2) is the path towards Thomason Foss.
The path initially heads uphill, to a point in which it runs alongside a fence bordering the railway line - situated just a few feet away (3).
Shortly after this point, the route continues down a flight of steps and then along an often narrow and uneven path. A couple of sections require scrambling over rocks before reaching the point at which the waterfall is visible.
To return to Goathland along the rail trail, head back to Beck Hole and after crossing the bridge, turn right to go through the gate situated opposite the pub/phone box. After walking approx 100 yards, go through a second gate and turn left to join the rail trail before continuing along the path to Goathland.
