Walk and cycle route works begin in Scarborough
The Cinder Track is getting an upgrade
Last updated 21st Jan 2026
A £2.2 million project to improve a much-loved walking and cycle route through a North Yorkshire town has begun.
The improvements to gateways on the Cinder Track, which was the main line between Scarborough and Whitby before its closure in 1965, are being carried out between Scalby and Scarborough.
North Yorkshire Council said it was improving the safety of junctions, enhancing biodiversity, and creating new public spaces for residents and visitors to enjoy.
The track stretches for 21 miles from Scarborough to Whitby and is popular with both local communities and visitors, providing views over the landscape, as well as a connection between villages and towns.
The project aims to boost connections, create a network of interesting spaces to explore, and support the tourism economy, and it has been split into different themes, “all inspired by the heritage of the former railway route which dates back to the Victorian era”.
According to a tool developed by Transport for the North (TfN) – which measures the risk of transport-related social exclusion (TRSE), and the vulnerability of the population to social exclusion – there is a “relatively higher level of risk of TRSE present in coastal areas of the North”.
Cllr Liz Colling, chair of the Scarborough and Whitby area committee, said: “This work will help to ensure more people can access the Cinder Track and enjoy the wonderful views that this route provides along the coast.
“The track has a special place for our local communities while also being enjoyed by visitors from far afield. I am pleased to see that the work is centred on the heritage of the route while making it fit for purpose for the 21st century.”
The project will see some areas developed as rest places with benches introduced, while others will be designated as gateway areas, or spaces that are journeyed through, to get to a destination.
North Yorkshire Council’s executive member for highways and transport, Cllr Malcolm Taylor, said: “The Cinder Track is a major asset for North Yorkshire, supporting everyday journeys for local people while also attracting visitors who want to experience our coast and countryside.
“This Towns Deal funding gives us the opportunity to significantly enhance the gateways between Scalby and Scarborough.
“These improvements will not only encourage more people to enjoy active travel, but also help celebrate and preserve the historic character that makes the Cinder Track such an important part of our heritage.”