We were thinking of making a day trip from York to Whitby. We thought you might be able to go through Scarborough and on up to Whitby by train but it doesn't seem possible and we would need to catch a bus as well. If we do catch the train to Scarborough and then the bus can you please advise the approximate cost of the bus for a full adult fare? Approx how long does it take from Scarborough to Whitby by bus and how often do the buses run? It would be nice to spend a bit of time in Scarborough, catch the bus to Robin Hood Bay, get off, have a look around there then get another bus to Whitby with time to look around before heading back to York probably by train and via Middlesborough. Is the train trip from Whitby to Middlesborough and down to York very Scenic? Thank you

I can't really help with the Whitby to Scarborough via public transport, but we did York to Whitby as a day trip last year, and I found myself wishing we'd given it longer, maybe even an overnight. And yes, my original thought was to drive to Whitby, have a look, and then go on to Scarborough on the way back to York. Not a chance!
Granted, we had two cars and 4 kids in tow, so we moved a little slower, and didn't get to Whitby until close to lunch, but we barely touched it. Whitby's a great little town - can't wait to go back.
My best friend is from up there; I will run your questions by her at breakfast tomorrow and see what she says.

Bus services aren't particularly integrated in Britain, and - though the system's imperfect - competition between suppliers is supposed to keep service levels up and prices down. So there isn't the easy one-window source for answering your questions that nationalrail.co.uk provides for railway services.

Traveline.info will give you timetables for the journeys you want.

Bus fares can be trickier, as there are a number of regional cross-supplier bus pass initiatives, but looking for individual fares on the web is usually an exercise in futility (the single-journey answer is usually "few fares above £3", but even that is heavily, qualified.

I THINK the North East Explorer (£9.50/adult per day: http://www.networkonetickets.co.uk/t...plorer-tickets) covers all your proposed bus travel. It DOES cover trains within its region - but not, I think, the first few miles of your proposed York-Scarborough journey so to be really frugal you need to buy a train ticket to Malton, then the pass for the rest of the day. I'm not sure that's physically possible: personally I'd buy a railway ticket to Scarborough, then the bus pass from the first bus driver, then an offpeak Thirsk-York train ticket at Mboro ticket office (your pass works on the train as far as Thirsk)

The Whitby-Mboro train runs inland out of Whitby and stays inland: the first half across moorland (nice to look at if you like moors): the second half pleasant lowland countryside, dull suburbia and finally a hideous combination of post-industrial devastation and 30 years' intermittent Legoland-style interventions to provide some employment.

Mboro's probably got fewer redeeming features than any other ex-industrial ex-town in Britain (given the competition, an extraordinary achievement): but there is a dedicated scenic railway based on Whitby and Pickering: http://www.nymr.co.uk/

It seems to me that the Coastliner bus service from York to Whitby and Pickering makes the most sense. You could then do say the bus to Pickering, train to Whitby and bus back to York.

http://www.yorkbus.co.uk/Coastliner.htm

Thanks to everyone for your resposes

That's a pretty full day if you are wanting to 'have a look at' Scarborough, Whitby and Robin Hood's Bay.
I don't know how familiar you are with the area, but at RHB you walk down a very steep slope (vehicles are not allowed unless delivering) to the sea. There are numerous little ginnels and passages to explore, and then once you get down to the sea you can go onto the cliffs and admire the view.
There's even a small Museum to explore.
Personally I think you are trying to see and do far too much. If you were hiring a car I'd say it was feasible. On public transport I really don't think it is. However, that's your decision to make.
My suggestion of a day out would be bus to Pickering, and then catch the North York Moors Steam Railway out to Whitby. You can hop on and off the steam train at the small villages it passes through.
http://www.nymr.co.uk/
I believe there is a bus that goes from Whitby to RHB if you had time.

>>On public transport I really don't think it is. <<

I totally agree. The area is 'explorable' by public transport . . . but not easily or efficiently. You can't cram as much in as you could driving (which is also slow . . . just not AS slow).