Rail paths project

Here in the North York Moors we celebrated the Millennium with a project designed to bring the past and future of the Moors together in a way that would benefit everyone.

With funding from the Millennium Festival Fund (Heritage Lottery) local artist, Vivien Mousdell has worked with communities which in one way or another have been shaped by a railway and the industry it served. Together they researched their history and came up with designs for special features which celebrated the past but would which would bring enjoyment and understanding of the area for the future.

All the features can be reached by wheelchair accessible trails, although Kettleness can be difficult in some weather conditions.

Rosedale Abbey

High up overlooking the dale on the disused railway is a beautiful stone seat with words and images carved from work produced by children of Rosedale Abbey School. Their celebrations involved the reenactment of stories associated with the ironstone mines using shadow puppets.

Ravenscar

The railway between Scarborough and Whitby closed in 1965 leaving a platform used only by ghosts and walkers. The people of Ravenscar decide to repopulate the platform with the characters of the railway's heyday. The beautiful tactile sculptures are the work of Vivien Mousdell who helped local youngsters to create tiles depicting the railway for the site.

Esk Valley

The tiny hamlet of Esk Valley lies beside the popular Goathland to Grosmont Rail Trail. Villagers helped to design a beautiful iron seat in the parapet of one of the original bridges over the Esk. Slate roundells within the ironwork are carved with images of the railway's past on one side and wildlife you can see there today on the other.

Kettleness

At a superb viewpoint on the Heritage Coast, with the beautiful village of Runswick Bay in the background, you can find a celebration of the old coastal railway. The children of Lythe school worked alongside Vivien Mousdell to carve the places and features of the line on to tiles. These were then used alongside a beautiful seat which marks the end of a pleasant short stroll to the viewpoint. Although the path is flat, it is a farmers track and can be muddy so is not always suitable for wheelchair use.