Saltburn-By-The-Sea: Pier, Lift to Town, Beach Huts and Views

On our way home after our visit to Durham on a Sunday morning, we stumbled upon this quaint seaside town called Saltburn-by-the-Sea. We didn’t exactly visit the town but just the Saltburn Beach. However, we quickly realised just how much the place has to offer had any of the restaurants and attractions been open.

It’s just a pity that most if not all the attractions and eateries are shut given how early we were on a Sunday morning but it is enough to give us a picture of how busy and exciting this place were to be at peak times. There are lots of restaurants, arts and craft shops, water sports, historical attractions and cafes not to mention the vast expanse which is the beach. You

Located in Redcar and Cleveland in North Yorkshire, England, Saltburn (for short) and in particular the beach is a popular holiday location for a quiet getaway. The beach is clean and the water is clear making it a safe beach to swim in. Here is a list of all the coastal attractions from our short trip there:

Saltburn Miniature Railway
Saltburn Pier
Saltburn Water Balanced Clift Lift
Restaurants, Cafes and Amenities
Beach Huts
Beach
Seaside Walks
Cleveland Way National Trail

And now for a closer look:

1. Saltburn Miniature Railway

Saltburn Miniature Railway is a 15-inch gauge railway with multiple engines and covered carriages big enough for full size adults and of course, children. The railway run alongside the stream and footpath between two stations, Cat Nab (near the car park) and Forest Halt (near the Tea Room). As the service only starts from noon, we didn’t get a chance to board one of the many locomotive engines servicing the route.

Prince Charles - Resident Locomotive — Prince Charles – Resident Locomotive

Here is what Saltburn Miniature Railway has to say about the locomotive above:

“Prince Charles” is a 4-6-2 Pacific Locomotive built around 1950 by the late H. Barlow and is powered by a 4.1 Litre Perkins Diesel Engine located in the Tender. This in turn drives a 110 volt dynamo providing power to the Electric motor situated in the Loco and via a chain turns the centre wheels. This arrangement is called Diesel – Electric and we believe that there are another six of these Locos by the same designer remaining.

Other locomotives plying the route are George Outhwaite, Saltburn 150 and Blacklock R. Several locomotives visited Saltburn Miniature Railway over the years. They included Little Giant, Effie, Mountaineer, Synod, Ravenglass and Sutton Belle.

2. Saltburn Pier

Just across from the Saltburn Lift to Town lower station is the Saltburn Pier. The original pier was designed and built by John Anderson. It opened in May 1869 with a length of 1500 feet. It was the first pier on Cleveland’s coast. Cleveland then was a heavily industrialised area. But, the workers’ leisure time was strictly limited. Days out at the seaside were real family treats. They would take the train to resorts and enjoy the beach and attractions there. In the first 6 months of its opening, 50,000 visitors paid to walk above the waves, revel in the sea breezes and enjoy the views.

To help visitors get back up the cliff, John Anderson also designed and built a timber vertical hoist. This was later replaced in 1884 by the existing inclined tramway. The tram is the earliest surviving and operational ‘funicular’ train in Great Britain. It uses an ingenious system of counter-balancing water tanks. More about the Saltburn Cliff Tramway in the next section.

A storm in 1875 washed away the pier head and reduced the pier’s length to 1250 feet. In 1924, the S.S. Ovenbeg plugged a 200 foot gap and 50 years later another violent storm tore away the glass sided saloon pier head and deck. In the 1990s, the pier was restored and the present plain pier head built on the shortened pier.

Saltburn Water Balanced Cliff Tramway

The Saltburn Cliff Tramway was opened in 1884. It replaced a vertical hoist designed to take visitors up and down from the town to the seaside and pier. It is the oldest water balanced funicular that is still in operation until this day. It linked the Victorian town of Saltburn to the only remaining pleasure pier on the North East and Yorkshire coast. Photos showing the lower station and tram.

Restaurants, Cafes and Amenities

A row of double storey modern seaside shops were added next to the parking lot with plenty of cafes, takeaway, restaurants and shops to cater to visitors. These included The Seaview, a fish and chip restaurant with balcony seating, a surf shop, cafes and ice cream parlour. There are several other shops; Surf Shop, Fish and Chip Takeaway Bar, Crazy Golf and Surf School before and after the Saltburn Cliff Tramway station and Pier. A public washroom is available just after the Tramway station.