The North York Moors is one of the easier National Parks to visit without a car, thanks to the Esk Valley railway, the North Yorkshire Moors Railway and the Coastliner bus.
Getting in
Take the train to Middlesbrough (from Newcastle, York or Leeds via Darlington) and change onto the Esk Valley line. The hour-and-a-half ride to Whitby is one of the best branch lines in England, stopping at Great Ayton, Castleton, Danby, Glaisdale, Egton Bridge and Grosmont. Alternatively, take the Coastliner bus from Leeds or York straight to Pickering or Whitby.
Day 1: The Esk Valley
Get off at Great Ayton and climb Roseberry Topping, then take an afternoon train on to Whitby. With only four or five trains a day, you will not have time to stop at Danby and Grosmont as well, so check the timetable and pick one stop.
Day 2: Steam and the south
Take the steam railway from Whitby all the way to Pickering, stopping at Goathland for Mallyan Spout on the way. From Pickering the Coastliner runs to Malton for main-line trains, or back over the moor to Whitby via Goathland on some journeys.
Other car-free ideas
The X93 and X94 buses link Middlesbrough, Guisborough, Whitby, Robin Hood's Bay and Scarborough; they do not go into Ravenscar
Moorsbus runs weekend and bank holiday services into the dales from April to September, including from Pickering and Helmsley
The Cinder Track lets you walk or cycle the old railway from Whitby to Robin Hood's Bay and on to Scarborough
