Saltburn-by-the-Sea offers several distinct highlights for a coastal stay: a historic pier, the Cliff Tramway, a sandy and shingle beach, and the cliffs of Hunt Cliff. This gives you a choice of built and transport heritage, beach and nature when planning your trip.
Pier and Cliff Tramway: two historic highlights
Saltburn Pier dates from 1867 to 1869 and was the first pier in the north-east of England. The Saltburn Cliff Tramway opened later, in 1884, to replace a vertical hoist. Saltburn is therefore home to two distinct historical features: the pier’s regional significance and the former function of the hoist that the tramway replaced.
Visitors can still ride the Saltburn Cliff Tramway and enjoy views of the coast. Its operation depends on local conditions. If you plan to ride, check before your visit to see whether it is running. This gives you a clear distinction to bear in mind when planning your trip: the pier represents the town’s early history, while the tramway relates to transport history and offers a coastal ride.
Beach, Cleveland Way and Hunt Cliff
Saltburn-by-the-Sea’s beach is made up of sand and shingle. If you would rather explore the town through its coastal landscape than its historic structures, you can also consider the Cleveland Way: the trail reaches the coast at Saltburn-by-the-Sea.
Another natural feature is the cliffs of Hunt Cliff. They are regionally significant as a nesting site for kittiwakes and other seabirds, including fulmars and cormorants. Hunt Cliff Reserve forms part of the cliffs near Saltburn. For travellers interested in seabirds, this nesting site adds a distinct nature feature alongside the beach and trail.
Saltburn-by-the-Sea also has local surf schools. Specific providers may change, so check current offerings if you are looking for a school during your stay. The coastal activities range from the beach and surfing to trails and nature watching, without requiring these different interests to be part of the same experience.
Saltburn Valley Gardens and cycling route
Saltburn Valley Gardens offer a different focus from the pier and beach. Facilities include orienteering, tea rooms, Italian gardens, the Saltburn Miniature Railway and a playground. The miniature railway runs the full length of Saltburn Valley Gardens. Some facilities may operate seasonally. If any are important to your visit, check in advance whether they will be available at your planned time.
Cycling enthusiasts also have a specific route to consider: the Cleveland Coast: Redcar to Saltburn-by-the-Sea route is 63.3 percent traffic-free. This figure applies to this named route. It offers a useful point of reference for anyone considering cycling as part of their stay.
Plan your journey
Regular train services run to Saltburn from Middlesbrough, Whitby and York. As information about regular services can change, check the timetable with the relevant operator before travelling.
When choosing Saltburn-by-the-Sea as your destination, you can plan your stay around the things that interest you most: the history of the pier, a ride on the Cliff Tramway, the beach and coastal trail, seabirds or the facilities at Valley Gardens. These places and activities offer different ways to shape your stay without requiring a fixed itinerary.
Discover more destinations: Moorsholm, Guisborough, Great Ayton, Brotton, Skelton-In-Cleveland, Loftus
Return to the main travel overview: Redcar And Cleveland.
