See the coast and moors by bus

Catch the X4/X4A Arriva bus from Whitby and take a journey along the coast. The half hourly service makes travelling by bus the perfect way to see this beautiful part of the Yorkshire coast and you can hop off to see a pretty coastal village before continuing your journey to the next one. The bus stops in Sandsend and Runswick Bay and you only have a short walk to Staithes after alighting the bus.

Your first leg starts in Whitby. Sit back and take in the scenery as the bus makes its way along the coast to your first stop at Sandsend. Here you can spend some time walking around this quiet coastal village and take in the sea air. Walk a section of the Cleveland Way, spend time on the beach listening to the waves and grab a morning coffee before catching the bus to your next stop.

Runswick Bay with its red roofs and colourful fishing boats invokes the romance of a windswept day by the sea. Make sure you have your camera with you to capture its magic. Walk around the narrow streets before heading to the sheltered Runswick Bay beach which is perfect to explore rockpools or paddle in the sea. Finish your time here with a sandwich on the beach as you watch the waves lapping on the sand.

Your final stop of the day is the fishing village of Staithes where the North York Moors meet the coast. The small, secluded beach is picture-perfect while the harbour is pretty to walk around. Situated along the Dinosaur Coast you may find fossils while you are here. Staithes is home to many artists and if you like to draw or paint you can find a spot to capture the beauty of this place. Visit the art galleries and try some freshly caught fish before catching the bus back to Whitby.

Catch the 840 Coastliner bus from Whitby for a scenic journey across the wild and dramatic moors. As you leave the coast behind you will be treated to beautiful scenery dotted with pretty villages. Voted the most picturesque bus route it’s easy to see why as you cross the open moorland.

Step off the bus and spend some time exploring what this pretty village has to offer. See the impressive Mallyan Spout waterfall, call into one of the tearooms for lunch and a pot of tea and browse the shops. Here you will also find Goathland Station on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway which is famous as Hogsmeade Station where you can walk in the footsteps of Harry, Ron and Hermione.

Thought of as one of the prettiest villages in North Yorkshire with its duck pond, market cross and village green, you can spot the well-photographed cute, thatched cottage by the stream and stretch your legs on the two-mile Thornton le Dale and Ellerburn walk. Follow the walk along the wooded riverside to Ellerburn, a nearby small hamlet with the ancient St Hilda’s church before returning via a narrow road.

Your next stop is the historic market town of Pickering with its castle ruins.  The weekly market and independent local shops, cafes and pubs mean the town has a great vibe. Wander through the streets and call into Botham's Pickering Tea Room & Shop for a scone or cake or really indulge with an afternoon tea. Pickering Station is the home of the North Yorkshire Moors Railway so you will often hear the train whistle while the smell of the rising billowing steam will take you back to a bygone age.

Your destination for the day is Malton. The town is filled with independent shops, cafes and restaurants, many situated around the Market Place alongside artisan food and drink producers. Catch the 840 bus towards Scarborough to your accommodation at East Heslerton for the evening. Manor Farm is a beautiful Victorian farmhouse where you will have a great night’s sleep in the spacious accommodation before enjoying a hearty breakfast ready for another day of bus travels.

Catch the 840 Coastliner bus from your accommodation or from Malton to York where you can change onto the 31X bus to Kirkbymoorside via Easingwold, Ampleforth Abbey and Helmsley.  Ampleforth Abbey is set in a valley with an estate of over 1,200 acres in the Howardian Hills National Landscape. Spend a few hours exploring the lakes, woodlands and orchard or call into the tea rooms for tea and cake or you can sample their cider. The abbey church is open to visit too. Catch the return bus to York.