Goathland (Aidensfield), Yorkshire travel guide and Goathland information

Visit Goathland

Goathland is a village to the north-east of the North Yorkshire Moors, near Whitby and to the north of Pickering.

A pretty village with a few facilities, both the location itself and TV and film fame successfully entices a large number of visitors to visit Goathland.

In an attractive setting in the Esk Valley, Goathland is also a stop on the steam railway that runs from Pickering to Grosmont - the most popular steam train ride in England.

Goathland in a Heartbeat

The main claim to fame of the village, and the reason it attracts such a large number of visitors, is because it was used as Aidensfield, the village in the long-running television series Heartbeat. Although parts of the series were filmed at loactions elsewhere there are several landmarks that will be familiar to viewers of the programme in Goathland, including the village pub and shops.

Fans will be pleased to see that the iconic police car is permanently parked in front of "Aidensfield Stores" and the garage used in the series is a permant fixture too. At least one of the bed and breakfasts was used for filming too. The large building at the top end of the village had scenes filmed in its lounge.

If that's not enough - Goathland railway station was used as Hogsmeade railway station for the first Harry Potter film! You can not only visit the station where some scenes of Harry Potter were filmed but you can watch the steam trains arrive and leave the station.

The North Yorkshire Moors railway runs a steam train service between Pickering and Whitby on the Yorkshire coast. The train stops at Pickering, Levisham, Goathland, Grosmont and Whitby. As well as these being lovely places to visit in themselves the train is travelling through the lovely North Yorkshire Moors scenery. A trip is definitely recommended.

At Goathland the charming station has lots of flowers in beds and planters and a blackboard is updated every day with the times of the steam trains so that you can be sure to be there to see it arriving. There is a small shop at the station selling lots of Harry Potter memorabilia plus various local products.

The railway line is operated as a charity and proceeds from the train tickets and shops keeps the railway operating. Staff are volunteers.

As well as Harry Potter and Heartbeat, Goathland is a charming village with a large green, lovely stone houses, a couple of pubs and restaurants, a few small shops and as an extra bonus extremely tame sheep wander throughout the village.

A river runs along next to the train line and the hills surrounding the village are part of the stunning North Yorkshire Moors. It is fabulous walking country and Goathland is a good base for walks.

Places to Visit Nearby

Whitby is a thriving seaside resort with lots of charming shops and cottages. A ruined abbey dominates the hill to one side and walk up the hill on the otherside and you will find an arch made of whale bones!

You can walk from Goathland to Grosmont on the "rail trail" walk. It is a 3.5 mile walk along an old railway line and you could even come back on the steam train.

You can find more local travel ideas in the Yorkshire Moors guide and the North Yorkshire guide.