15 Top Things to Do in Goathland: A Yorkshire Gem

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Looking For the Best Things To Do in Goathland?

You’ve come to the right place because I live in North Yorkshire. I’ve been visiting gorgeous Goathland for more years than I care to admit, and I know all the best things to do in Goathland.

Whether you want to hike to scenic waterfalls or love the idea of steam train rides through the magnificent North York Moors National Park, you’re going to love the picturesque landscapes and Harry Potter connections in this tiny, tucked-away village.

If, like me, you’re a visitor “of a certain age,” you’ll also be thrilled to hear that Goathland was where Heartbeat was filmed.

Use this helpful guide to discover the best things to do in Goathland.

Best Things to do in Goathland

A history-lovers and hikers paradise, Goathland is located in the heart of England’s North York Moors National Park. Surrounded by hills, dales and heather moorland dotted with sheep, Goathland is naturally beautiful and will totally enchant you!

While you’re visiting Goathland, be sure to visit all the main attractions that this tiny village has to offer, then relax in one of the cosy pubs after a long day in the fresh air. You’ll definitely want to stay for a few days 🙂

1. Visit Goathland Station

Visiting the iconic railway station is easily the most popular thing to do in Goathland. Located just 0.4 miles from the village centre (a 2-minute walk), Goathland station was used as Hogsmeade railway station in the early Harry Potter movies.

Here you’ll find a beautiful, old-fashioned station building and platform, with a pretty bridge. It’s especially atmospheric if you time your visit for when one of the North Yorkshire Moors Railway steam trains is passing through the station.

Trains run all year round, with special events throughout the year, including very popular forties weekends and Santa specials.

North Yorkshire Moors Railway Cost

Pricing is really straightforward! For 2023, it’s £45 per adult for one day of travel, and you can travel for the following 12 months for free! As an extra bonus, kids go FREE in 2023! 

However, if you simply want to travel on a steam train and only have a short time available, you can travel to Grosmont – the next station on the line – for just £12.50 return 🙂

Psst… If you’re travelling with your dog, you’ll also need to purchase a dog ticket for £3.00

North Yorkshire Moors Railway Experience

As a Yorkshire local, I highly suggest taking a trip on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway from mid to late August and throughout September when the deep, dark pink/purple bell heather is in full bloom, with a glorious display unrivalled anywhere else in England.

Goathland Station also has a quirky tea room located in an atmospheric converted 1922 goods wagon! You can choose from a range of hot and cold drinks, savouries and snacks, delicious cakes, sweet treats and ice-creams.

The team room is dog-friendly and you can choose whether to eat in or take your goodies on the train with you.

Accessibility: Getting to Goathland Station From Goathland Village

While it’s only a short walk to the station from the village, you need to know that it’s a steep hill! If you get off the train in Goathland, the walk is uphill and can be hard going if you have walking difficulties or use a wheelchair.

2. Photograph Steam Trains

If you love trains, you’ll love the heritage trains on the Goathland railway. But where can you get the best shot of them? Here are my favourite spots 🙂

• The “Rail Trail” between Grosmont and Goathland
• The Goathland Station stone railway bridge on Cow Wath Bank (the hill leading up from the station at Goathland)

3. Check Out All The Heartbeat Filming Locations

Do you remember “Heartbeat”? The charming British TV drama based on a rural 1960s police force in the fictional village of Aidensfield. It ran for 18 seasons and was largely filmed in Goathland.

Thousands of Heartbeat fans trek to Goathland every year for a journey down memory lane at the “Aidensfield Arms“, the “Aidensfield Garage“, and the train station.

You can easily visit all of the best Heartbeat film locations in one day, as the village is so small 🙂

4. Stroll Along the Goathland to Grosmont Walk

The 3.5-mile Rail Trail from Goathland to Grosmont is a well-signposted, dog-friendly walk through gorgeous countryside between the two villages. You can also divert to see the Mallyan Spout waterfall.

You’ll need your sturdy walking boots for this walk, as the path is often muddy, with steps to negotiate along the way.

Psst – Make sure to walk from Goathland to Grosmont and not the other way around! Only a masochist would want to take on the steep climb!

4. Pause For a Pint in One of the Atmospheric Goathland Pubs

Birch Hall Inn is North Yorkshire’s smallest and quaintest pub and it’s in Goathland! It would be rude not to drop in to check it out 🍺

There are plenty of cosy traditional pubs with a warm Yorkshire welcome in the surrounding area, so you can quench your thirst after a long day of exploring.

5. Discover the Best Goathland Waterfall Walks

At 70ft (21m) high, Mallyan Spout is the highest waterfall in Yorkshire. If you’re up for an adventure, you can reach it from a footpath beside the Mallayan Spout Hotel. The route is 3 miles and it should take around 90 minutes.

Mallyan Spout Waterfall Yorkshire. Image by Suzanne

➡️ You can download the route here or just follow the well-signposted path.

📌 The path is located on the right side of the Mallyan Spout Hotel, beside the little tea room.
The rocky path will lead you down a steep hill into the tranquil wooded valley. The route can be challenging, especially after heavy rain – take great care!! Expect to walk over large, slippery rocks, and up onto the moors to see the waterfall!

6. Picnic by the River

If you prefer something a little less energetic, why not pack a picnic basket with your favourite treats, grab your picnic rug and spend the afternoon on the banks of the River Esk?

Alternatively, head into the North York Moors and picnic amid the heather, with breathtaking views – and maybe a few inquisitive sheep!

7. Explore the Village Church

Goathland has had a church for at least eight centuries, with the current location, opposite the Mallyan Spout Hotel, consecrated and used from Elizabethan times.

The current church is Victorian and well worth popping into to see the thousand-year-old baptism font, gorgeous stained glass windows and barrel-vaulted wooden ceiling.

8. Take a Day Trip To Whitby

In just 20 minutes by car, you can be at the coast in Whitby – the North Yorkshire fishing town that inspired Bram Stoker to create Count Dracula!

You’ll need your walking shoes to cope with the famous 199 steps up to the magnificent and brooding gothic ruins of Whitby Abbey 🥾

Alternatively, the warren of tiny and atmospheric streets in the town beg to be explored and you really should not go home without a plate of traditional fish and chips from the harbourside Magpie Cafe!

9. Visit The Lilla Cross

Venture six miles from the village onto Fylingdales Moor, to see Lilla Cross – a 10th-century stone marker said to be the oldest Christian memorial in the North of England.

Lilla Cross forms the boundaries of four ancient parishes and the town of Whitby, in a location where ancient pathways across the moors meet.

According to local legend the “Maltese form” 7.5-foot high cross was erected by King Edwin of Northumbria. It marks the grave of Lilla who saved his life during an assassination attempt.

10. Explore the Museum of Victorian Science

Seven miles from Goathland, this ultra-quirky museum is a must if you would like a thrilling journey of real science through 19th-century physics.

From Dr. Frankenstein’s laboratory and the discovery of x-rays to the discovery of the electron, there’s plenty to see and explore in this impressive collection. Visits are by appointment only and you should expect to spend around 2 hours at the museum.

📞Call (+44) 01947 897440 for appointments (Please ring during evenings only)

📍Woodberry, Glaisdale, Whitby

11. Get Outdoors on Your Bike

If you’re an intermediate or expert cyclist, you’ll love the variety of cycle routes around Goathland!

From long rides out to some of North Yorkshire’s prettiest coastal towns and villages to challenging trails through the North York Moors, there’s plenty to choose from – and superb places to eat and stay after your ride too!

13. Treat Yourself to Afternoon Tea

14. Watch Out for Sheep – Everywhere!

One notable thing about Goathland is that sheep roam freely through the village – and the surrounding area, including the roads! 🐑

While it’s fun to watch these woolly “kings of the road”, you’ll need to drive carefully – especially at night!!

And you’ll want to watch where you’re walking – where there are sheep, there is, of course, sheep 💩

15. Stop For A Meal

For a dot of a village, there is a surprising variety of places to eat in Goathland, from charming tea rooms to relaxed fine dining at the Mallyan Spout and the Homestead Kitchen restaurant.

As I had Bertie with me, we popped into the cosy bar at the Mallyan Spout, where I had a delicious (and ridiculously filling) cheese and bacon burger that was obviously cooked to order for me. Yummy!

Recommended Goathland Accommodation

If you’re visiting Goathland, please think about staying in a hotel or B&B rather than an Airbnb/VRBO. As in many touristic parts of North Yorkshire, staying in a locally owned and operated property is the best way to support the local economy.

Here are the two best hotels in Goathland

➡️ The Inn on the Moor

Located right in the middle of the village, you couldn’t ask for a more convenient spot than this. Guests love the friendliness of the hotel and rate the breakfast very highly!

➡️ The Mallyan Spout

If you’re looking for something with more variety, the Mallyan Spout could be your best option, with comfortable en-suite rooms, a wonderful restaurant, and a dog-friendly pub serving hearty “pub grub”.

And if you’re looking for something with a more homely feel and real personal touches, my recommendation for the best bed and breakfast in Goathland, North Yorkshire is the Fairhaven Country Guest House.

⭐️ For even more places to stay in Goathland, check out Booking.com. I use Booking.com for all of my accommodation bookings.

Where is Goathland?

Goathland is a rural village located in the scenic North York Moors National Park. Here’s a quick summary of the best ways to visit:

Organised Tours

Many people choose to visit Goathland on an organised tour from York. It’s a great option if you don’t have a car or you’re visiting in the winter when the rural roads could be treacherous.

Steam Train

The North York Moors Railway runs through Goathland. Vintage steam trains and other heritage engines stop at Goathland station en route from Pickering to Whitby.

➡️ Check out their website here for timetables, tickets and route information.

Driving:

If you want to explore the village and the surrounding area independently, you’ll need a car. The village is around 40 miles (1 hour) from York, 10 miles (20 mins) from Whitby and 25 miles (40 mins) from Scarborough.

There’s plenty of parking in the village and it’s inexpensive.

Public Transport

Goathland is on a regular public bus route – the 840 Coastliner from Leeds via York and Pickering to Whitby. The journey is around 3 hours from Leeds or 2 hours from York, and you’ll need to change buses in Malton.

➡️ Don’t forget to check the timetable to see when the last bus is!

Since you’ll likely be coming from York, the easiest way to get to Goathland is by car.

Driving will take you approximately the same time as flying (although the flight time is just 29 minutes, factor in security, boarding, baggage claim, etc) and you’ll have your car to explore.

Goathland Weather

Goathland has a temperate maritime climate, with relatively mild temperatures throughout the year and distinct seasons. Regardless of the season, Goathland’s natural beauty and charming surroundings make it a superb place to visit all year round.

Here’s what Goathland weather is like through the seasons:

🌷Spring (March to May):

Spring in Goathland is beautiful. The countryside bursts into life with colourful hedgerows and lush greenery. It’s likely to rain, so you’ll want to have an umbrella handy 🌂

• Minimum Temperatures: In March, the minimum temperature can range from 2°C to 5°C (36°F to 41°F). By May, it rises to around 7°C to 10°C (45°F to 50°F).
• Maximum Temperatures: March sees daytime highs of about 8°C to 11°C (46°F to 52°F), which gradually increase to 12°C to 16°C (54°F to 61°F) in May.

🌞 Summer (June to August):

Tourists flock to Goathland in the summer to enjoy the long daylight hours and the mild and pleasant weather. You’ll have no trouble sleeping at night, as it doesn’t get “sticky hot”!

• Minimum Temperatures: Summer nights are cool, with minimum temperatures ranging from 10°C to 13°C (50°F to 55°F).
• Maximum Temperatures: From 17°C to 21°C (63°F to 70°F), with occasional warmer days rising to 25°C (77°F).

🍁 Autumn (September to November):

Goathland’s woodlands and moors put on a stunning display of fall foliage, although you should anticipate more frequent rainfall as the season progresses towards winter.

• Minimum Temperatures: In September, expect minimum temperatures of around 9°C to 12°C (48°F to 54°F), gradually dropping to 4°C to 7°C (39°F to 45°F) in November.
• Maximum Temperatures: from 15°C to 18°C (59°F to 64°F) in September and can decrease to 7°C to 10°C (45°F to 50°F) in November.

☃️ Winter (December to February):

Goathland winters are cold with short daylight hours. The village is quiet – perfect if you want to experience the tranquil moors covered in snow!

• Minimum Temperatures: -1°C to 2°C (30°F to 36°F).
• Maximum Temperatures: 4°C to 7°C (39°F to 45°F), with occasional colder spells.

You’ll want to check the local weather forecast for more accurate and up-to-date information when planning your visit.

Final Thoughts on The Best Things To Do in Goathland

Goathland offers plenty of activities to captivate you. Whether you’re a nature enthusiast looking to explore stunning landscapes, a history buff eager to discover Goathland’s rich heritage, or you want tranquillity and charm, Goathland has it all.

From scenic hikes along the moors to immersing yourself in the world of Harry Potter at the famous Goathland station, this hidden gem is bound to leave an indelible mark on your heart.

So why wait? Pack your bags, embark on an unforgettable adventure, and discover for yourself why Goathland truly is one of the best-kept secrets in North Yorkshire.

You might also like

• Unmissable Heartbeat Filming Locations in Yorkshire
• Your essential packing list for Yorkshire
• Discover the Most Beautiful Towns in Yorkshire
• Is York Worth Visiting?
• The Best Christmas Markets in Yorkshire

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