Grosmont cottages

For those of you with a passion for steam trains, Grosmont is a “must visit” during your holiday in North Yorkshire. Home of the North Yorkshire Moors Railway (NYMR), the trains run for 18 miles from Pickering in the south to Grosmont and then, from April to October, on a further five miles to Whitby. You can stop at any of the villages on the way and, at Grosmont itself, visit the engine sheds to view the maintenance and restoration of the steam and diesel engines. To reach the sheds you walk through the world's oldest passenger tunnel which was designed by George Stephenson and built in 1835. If you fancy dinner with a difference, book the Pullman train which a quality dinner is served in the train in the evening as it travels through the stunning scenery of the Moors.

The village has a good selection of tearooms and a pub and you can pick up those everyday essentials in Britain's oldest Co-operative store. There is also a bookshop and an art gallery featuring the works of local artists.

The village is on the route of the Esk Valley walk but for those who prefer less of a challenge, try the Rail Trail. This 3.5 mile walk takes you along the route of George Stephenson's original railway to Goathland, the location of the TV series Heartbeat and Hogsmeade in the Harry Potter films. There is also a circular walk that takes in Grosmont's industrial heritage.

In addition to the North Yorkshire Moors Railway, Grosmont is also a station along the Esk Valley railway which connects Whitby and Middlesbrough and there is a regular bus service through the village taking in neighbouring villages and the town of Whitby on the coast.