Tuesday 31 December 2013

Cinder Track

The 21 mile section of NCN route 1 between Scarborough and Whitby is known as the Cinder Track. This is because it runs along an old railway line and unusually the track-bed was composed of cinders rather than the normal crushed stone ballast. The cinders are still very obvious in many parts of the trail. I wonder where that large volume of cinders came from in the 1880s?
Approaching Whitby the trail passes over the 13 arch brick Larpool viaduct with the River Esk and the active rail line from Middlesbrough to Whitby 120 feet below.

 

The route ends abruptly about ½ mile from the centre of Whitby where there is an interpretation board.
The line did continue but there is little sign of it now except for a footpath stretch north of Sandsend which forms part of the Cleveland Way.

1 comment:

  1. I didn't even get as far as Keith, when in 2011 I rode with some mates from Whitby to Robin's Hood Bay - and we had good weather! Highlights for me were: yes, of course, the Larpool Viaduct; the firing of a small canon at midday at the Victoria Hotel, Robin Hoods Bay; and Trailways cycle hire (the old Hawsker station and railway carriage). Find a You-tube video of the canon with this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AiHOLiMjS4g

    ReplyDelete