Whitby to Staithes - Coastal Cycle Link

The feasibility project will look at options and costings to create a safe cycle link connect the village of Staithes to the town of Whitby on the North Yorkshire Coast. The link will serve local people and communities as well as visitors to the coast.

It also has the potential to fill a gap in the National Cycle Network route 1. There is an opportunity to link the two settlements and communities between through use of the disused railway line that once ran between them.

For a large part of the route, the track bed is still in use as a walkway and aspirational outcome of the project is to bring the railway line and its associated infrastructure back into use as a cycleway. This includes exploring the potential to reopen two sections of railway tunnel to create a unique user experience.

An initial structural report into the condition of the tunnels has been undertaken. In Staithes and between Sandsend and Whitby, the line has been largely lost and so a safe solution needs to be found to make the connections into the towns at either end of the railway section.

It is expected that the southern link will connect to the existing Cinder Track which runs from Whitby to Scarborough taking into account local sensitivities. Consideration should be made to the unique setting in a protected landscape, the historical context of the area and engagement with the community will be essential to the success of this project.

Most of the land in the proposed area between Staithes and Sandsend is owned by Mulgrave Estate who are partners in the project and very supportive of its aspirations. Other land ownership needs to be determined as part of the project.

The nature of the project means that there is potential for considerable costs, both capital and revenue to implement and maintain any works in the future. It is essential that all options consider the long term maintenance liabilities so that they are identified and understood at the outset of the project.