Getting here
Getting to Thornton-le-Dale: buses, routes and distances
By Jon Cosson · Last checked
You can leave the car at home. One of the most scenic bus routes in Britain stops in the village, the nearest town is six minutes away on it, and almost everything people come to this corner of Yorkshire for is inside an hour's drive.
Pickering to Thornton-le-Dale bus
The 840 Coastliner, operated by Yorkshire Coastliner (Transdev), runs Leeds, York, Malton, Pickering and Thornton-le-Dale, with selected journeys continuing to Goathland and Whitby, and has been voted the most scenic bus route in Britain. It is a sightseeing trip that happens to be public transport: the climb over the moors beyond the village is the part people remember.
For visitors the useful consequence is simple. Pickering is roughly a six-minute hop from the village on the 840, so Thornton-le-Dale works as an easy car-free base, Pickering and its steam railway, Whitby and Scarborough are all reachable on the network without ever starting an engine.
Car-free in a sentence
Train to Malton or York, pick up the 840, get off in the village. Walks, shops, pubs and the woods are all on foot from there, and bikes cover the rest.
On this page: the Coastliner 840 at Thornton-le-Dale · buses through the village
Other services
Eastward and westward, East Yorkshire's 28 (numbered 128 until February 2026) runs Scarborough to Helmsley via Pickering, calling here on the way. In summer the seasonal Moorsbus network adds services across the North York Moors, which is the way to reach the higher, emptier parts of the park without a car.
Timetables and fares change with the season, so check the operator's own site before travelling. Coastliner 840 uses Thornton Cross and the stop adjacent to Greengate Lane. Stops for the 28 are listed below in Buses through the village, and local taxi firms are best found in Pickering.
Why Pickering matters
Pickering is the nearest town, about three miles west, about six minutes by bus, and does the jobs a village of this size cannot: supermarkets, a bank or two, the castle, and above all the North Yorkshire Moors Railway, whose southern terminus is the station there. Treating Pickering as your town and Thornton-le-Dale as your base is the way most repeat visitors do it. More on the day trips it opens up on things to do and walks, on yorkshiremoors.com for the wider moors, Whitby and Scarborough, and at neighbouring allerston.org, the next village east along the A170. An easy, level alternative to a day of travelling is a gentle day in the village.
How far is Thornton-le-Dale from...
Approximate road distances; check your route before travelling.
| Place | Distance by road |
|---|---|
| Pickering | About 3 miles |
| Malton | About 9 miles |
| Scarborough | About 15 miles |
| Helmsley | About 16 miles |
| Whitby | About 20 miles |
| York | About 26 miles |
| Leeds | About 60 miles |
| Thirsk | About 29 miles |
Road distances checked 18 October 2026. For the bus, see the Coastliner 840 section.
The Thirsk route follows the A170 over Sutton Bank; caravans are banned on the bank, as our Moors driving guide explains.
Nearer still, Dalby Forest is a few minutes up the road out of the village, and Ellerburn is a half-hour walk north through the woods rather than a drive at all. Both are on things to do and walks.
Parking when you arrive
If you do drive, the village car park off Maltongate (satnav YO18 7SD) is a two-minute walk from the centre, and the tariff, EV charging, Blue Badge rules, coach and motorhome bays and the village's other car park are all covered on the parking guide.
Coastliner 840 bus
The Coastliner 840 is run by Transdev. It runs Leeds, Tadcaster, York, Malton, Pickering and Thornton-le-Dale, then over the moor via Lockton Lane End, the Hole of Horcum (Saltergate), RAF Fylingdales, Goathland, Sleights and Ruswarp to Whitby. The 840 bus York to Whitby journey crosses the North York Moors, which is the part people remember.
Not every 840 journey serves every stop, and some journeys end at Thornton-le-Dale rather than continuing to Whitby, so check the current timetable on the Coastliner website before travelling. The 843 to Scarborough does not come through Thornton-le-Dale; it leaves the 840 route at Malton.
Buses run about every two hours Monday to Saturday, with four through journeys a day to Whitby; Sundays are infrequent. Check the current timetable before travelling.
England's £3 single bus fare cap runs until March 2027 on participating operators.
In the village the 840 stops at Thornton Cross and at the stop adjacent to Greengate Lane.
- Live Coastliner 840 timetable (Transdev)
- Coastliner at transdevbus.co.uk
- Car-free days out across the North York Moors (yorkshiremoors.com is also written by the author of this guide)
Checked 18 October 2026.
Coastliner 840 bus to Thornton-le-Dale
The Coastliner 840, run by Transdev, links Leeds and York with Malton, Pickering, Thornton-le-Dale and Whitby. Transdev calls it Britain's most scenic bus route: after Thornton-le-Dale it climbs past Dalby Forest, the Hole of Horcum and RAF Fylingdales to Goathland, then drops down through Sleights to Whitby.
About five 840 buses a day each way stop in the village centre, and only some of these carry on over the moors to Whitby, so check the timetable before you travel. The 843, which shares the route as far as Malton, goes to Scarborough instead and does not stop in Thornton-le-Dale. Extra journeys are sometimes added in the summer holidays, and roadworks or closures on the moor road can divert the route, so check Transdev's service updates on the day.
Timetables and live departures are on Transdev's 840 service page. You can pay by contactless on the bus or buy mobile tickets in the Transdev Go app. Drivers also hand out Transdev Treats vouchers with discounts at nearby attractions, including the North Yorkshire Moors Railway.
Thornton-le-Dale is also served all year by East Yorkshire's service 28 (numbered 128 until February 2026), which runs between Scarborough and Helmsley via Pickering. Timetables are on the East Yorkshire Buses website.
Buses through the village
Route and fare information checked 15 October 2026.
- 28, East Yorkshire
- 840, Coastliner
- Selected journeys only
Routes, operators and frequency
- 28: East Yorkshire
Scarborough to Helmsley along the A170: Scarborough, Seamer, East Ayton, West Ayton, Snainton, Ebberston, Allerston, Wilton, Thornton-le-Dale, Pickering, Wrelton, Sinnington, Kirkbymoorside and Helmsley.
Village stops: Hilltop, Rectory Lane and Thornton Cross. Daytime service is roughly hourly, with irregular gaps. Check East Yorkshire's timetable. Scarborough station provides a rail connection.
- Coastliner 840: Transdev
Leeds, York, Malton, Pickering and Thornton-le-Dale. Selected journeys only continue over the moors to Goathland and Whitby bus station. Some journeys run via Kirby Misperton (Flamingo Land) and end at Thornton-le-Dale.
Village stops: adjacent Greengate Lane and Thornton Cross. Beyond Malton the service is up to hourly. Check which journeys continue beyond the village. Rail connections are at Malton, York and Whitby; Pickering connects with the North York Moors Railway.
The 843 shares the Coastliner route to Malton, then goes to Scarborough, not via Thornton-le-Dale. The X43 Coastliner Express is summer only and does not serve the village.
Where to catch the bus in the village
- Hilltop: East Yorkshire 28.
- Rectory Lane: East Yorkshire 28. The stop is listed as adjacent on the eastbound to Helmsley side, and opposite on the return.
- Thornton Cross: East Yorkshire 28, and Coastliner 840.
- Adjacent Greengate Lane: Coastliner 840.
Place...
- Whitby
- 840 on selected journeys only, with no change needed. Arrives at Whitby bus station; Whitby also has the Esk Valley line.
- Scarborough
- 28, with no change needed. Scarborough station offers rail connections.
- York
- 840 via Pickering and Malton, with no change needed. York station offers rail connections.
- Pickering and the steam railway
- 840, 28, with no bus change needed. For the North York Moors Railway, get off at Pickering and walk through the town to the station. The 840 stop is Royal Oak, Eastgate.
- Helmsley
- 28 via Pickering and Kirkbymoorside, with no change needed.
- Goathland
- 840 on selected journeys continuing over the moors, with no change needed on those journeys.
- Malton
- 840 via Pickering, with no change needed. Malton station offers rail connections.
- Leeds
- 840 via Pickering, Malton and York, with no change needed.
Fares, passes and payment
- The national £3 single fare cap in England applies until March 2027.
- Older and disabled person's bus passes are accepted under the English national concessionary scheme. The standard national rule is from 9.30am on weekdays and all day at weekends; check locally.
- Both operators confirm contactless bank card payment: see East Yorkshire's payment information and Transdev's payment information.
- Sunday and bank holiday services differ, so check the timetable for your travel day.
Common questions
How far is Thornton-le-Dale from Pickering, Scarborough, Whitby and York?
Approximate road distances are Pickering about 3 miles (about 5 minutes), Scarborough about 15 miles (about 25 minutes), Whitby about 20 miles (about 35 minutes) and York about 26 miles (about 45 minutes). Times are for a clear road; allow longer in summer and on market days. See the Coastliner 840 section for the bus. Coastliner 840 bus details.
Which bus goes from Thornton-le-Dale to Whitby?
The Coastliner 840, run by Transdev. Selected journeys, four a day, continue from the village over the moor via Goathland to Whitby bus station, with no change needed. Not every 840 goes beyond the village, so check the live timetable before travelling.
Does the Coastliner 840 stop in Thornton-le-Dale?
Yes. The 840 calls at Thornton Cross and at the stop adjacent to Greengate Lane, on its Leeds, York, Malton and Pickering route.
How do I get to Thornton-le-Dale by car?
The village sits on the A170 Thirsk to Scarborough road, about three miles east of Pickering. From the west you come through Pickering; from the east you come in along the A170 past Allerston and Snainton. Post town Pickering, postcode area YO18, dialling code 01751.
Is there a train to Thornton-le-Dale?
No, there's no station. The nearest mainline station is Malton, about seven miles away on the York to Scarborough line, with Scarborough about 16 miles east; from either, pick up the bus. Pickering station, about three miles west, is the southern terminus of the heritage North Yorkshire Moors Railway rather than a mainline stop.
Which buses serve Thornton-le-Dale?
The 840 Coastliner, operated by Yorkshire Coastliner (Transdev), links Leeds, York, Malton, Pickering and Thornton-le-Dale, with selected journeys continuing to Goathland and Whitby. It was voted the most scenic bus route in Britain. East Yorkshire's service 28 (numbered 128 until February 2026) runs between Scarborough and Helmsley via the village and Pickering, and the seasonal Moorsbus adds summer services across the moors.
Can I get to Whitby by bus from Thornton-le-Dale?
Yes. Selected Coastliner 840 journeys continue from Thornton-le-Dale over the moors through Goathland to Whitby bus station, with no change needed on those journeys. Not every 840 goes to Whitby, so check the live timetable before travelling. Whitby also connects with the Esk Valley railway line.
Is there a bus from Thornton-le-Dale to York?
Yes. The Coastliner 840 links Thornton-le-Dale with York via Pickering and Malton, with no change needed. York station provides rail connections. Check the live timetable for the journey you need.
How far is Thornton-le-Dale from Pickering by bus?
Thornton-le-Dale to Pickering is roughly a six-minute hop on the 840, which makes the village an easy car-free base. Pickering is the nearest town and the southern gateway to the North Yorkshire Moors Railway.
How far is Thornton-le-Dale from Pickering?
About 3 miles east along the A170, about 5 minutes by car on a clear road.
How far is Thornton-le-Dale from Scarborough?
About 15 miles by road, about 25 minutes by car on a clear road.
How far is Thornton-le-Dale from Whitby?
About 20 miles by road, about 35 minutes by car on a clear road.
How far is Thornton-le-Dale from York?
About 26 miles by road, about 45 minutes by car on a clear road.
How far is Thornton-le-Dale from Malton?
About 9 miles by road, about 15 to 20 minutes by car on a clear road.
How far is Thornton-le-Dale from Helmsley?
About 16 miles west along the A170, about 25 to 30 minutes by car on a clear road.
How far is Thornton-le-Dale from Leeds?
About 60 miles by road to the south-west, around an hour and a half of driving via the A64 through York and Malton. The 840 Coastliner runs the same corridor as a through bus service from Leeds, though it takes considerably longer than driving.
Does the Coastliner 840 stop in Thornton le Dale?
Yes. About five 840 buses a day each way stop in the village centre, on the route between Leeds, York, Malton, Pickering and Whitby.
Does the 840 go to Scarborough?
No. The 840 goes to Whitby. The 843 shares the route as far as Malton and then goes to Scarborough, but it does not stop in Thornton-le-Dale.
Which other buses serve Thornton le Dale?
East Yorkshire's service 28, formerly the 128, runs all year between Scarborough and Helmsley via Pickering and Thornton-le-Dale.