From Pier to Pit – Exploring Coastal Icons and Moorland Heritage
Apr 23
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The day started with grey skies and cautious optimism, but with a forecast for clearing conditions and low winds, I took the chance to head out. First stop: the coastal town of Saltburn, before winding inland across the North York Moors, uncovering a brilliant mix of coastal landmarks, castles, railways and mining remains along the way.
The weather, in the end, gave me a bit of everything - bright blue skies that made some views shine, but also high cloud cover that added mood and depth in the more dramatic locations. That contrast made for a cracking day of aerial photography. From salt air and seaside piers, to windswept castles and old ironstone remnants, it was a day full of visual variety and plenty of character from every corner of the landscape.
Saltburn Pier and Tramway – A Victorian Icon Still Going Strong
Saltburn Pier is one of the last surviving pleasure piers on the North East coast. Originally opened in 1869, it once stretched over 1,500 feet into the sea, welcoming visitors arriving by train to this fast-growing seaside resort. Though storm damage and the tides have shortened it over time, it remains a beloved symbol of the town’s Victorian seaside heritage. Just above it, the Saltburn Cliff Tramway, opened in 1884, still ferries passengers up and down the steep cliff face - the oldest water-powered funicular still in operation in Britain.
From the air, the symmetry of the pier and tramway is striking. The drone captured the clean lines of the pier stretching into the sea, perfectly balanced against the cliffs and sweeping beach. The tramway cars, parked at the top and bottom of the track, add a nostalgic pop of colour against the muted tones of the landscape. With the surf below and Saltburn’s neat layout behind, it’s a perfect blend of engineering, charm, and coastal tradition - a brilliant start to the day.
Saltburn Railway Viaduct – A Forgotten Giant Above the Valley
The Saltburn Railway Viaduct, also known as the Saltburn Gill Viaduct, is a striking yet often overlooked reminder of the town’s rich railway past. Opened in the 1860s, it once carried the line between Saltburn and the ironstone-rich areas of East Cleveland. With its tall brick arches spanning the wooded Saltburn Valley, it played a vital role in transporting materials during the height of the region’s industrial boom. Though the line is now long closed, the viaduct remains intact - a towering structure reclaimed by nature.
From the air, the viaduct is truly breathtaking. The drone revealed its full scale - tall arches threading through the trees, casting long shadows across the valley floor. The contrast between the aged red brickwork and the lush greens of the surrounding woodland made for an incredible composition. It’s one of those structures you barely notice from the ground, but from above, it’s clear this was once a key artery of Saltburn’s industrial heart, now standing silent but proud.
Skelton Castle – A Georgian Revival with Medieval Roots
Skelton Castle, located in Skelton-in-Cleveland, North Yorkshire, is a stately home built in the late 18th century on the site of a 12th-century Norman fortress. The original castle, constructed around 1140 by Robert de Brus, featured two lookout towers, dungeons, and a moat. Over the centuries, it passed through several prominent families, including the de Fauconbergs and the Conyers, eventually falling into disrepair by the 15th century. In 1788, John Wharton inherited the estate and, between 1788 and 1817, demolished the medieval ruins to construct the current Gothic-style country house, incorporating some elements of the original structure .
From the air, Skelton Castle presents a harmonious blend of historical architecture and natural beauty. The drone captured the castle's dressed sandstone façade, Lakeland slate roof, and the surrounding landscaped grounds, which include remnants of the medieval moat and parkland. The estate remains privately owned and is not open to the public, but its grandeur and historical significance are evident from above, offering a glimpse into the region's rich heritage
‘Tank’ on the Rosedale Branch East – A Hidden Relic of the Railway Age
Marked simply as ‘Tank’ on OS maps, this mysterious feature sits beside the route of the Rosedale Branch East, part of the historic railway line that once transported ironstone from the moors to Teesside’s hungry furnaces. It’s believed to be the remains of a water tank or supply point, likely used to refill steam locomotives tackling the steep gradients and exposed terrain of the moorland route. Though it’s now partially overgrown and weathered by time, it remains a fascinating glimpse into the working life of this once-busy industrial railway.
I spotted it from the roadside and, with time tight, sent the drone up from the verge to take a closer look. From above, the structure emerges subtly from the landscape—rectangular, sunken and edged with stone, hinting at its utilitarian past. It sits quietly in the moorland now, easily missed unless you know where to look. There’s something evocative about these small, forgotten features - a reminder of the invisible infrastructure that kept the great wheels of industry turning in one of Yorkshire’s most dramatic landscapes.
High Bearing – East Mines: A Hidden Industrial Gem Revealed from Above
While driving through the moorland roads near the Rosedale East Mines, I caught a glimpse of what looked like a chimney rising from the landscape - an unmistakable sign of North Yorkshire’s ironstone past. Without time to explore on foot, I launched the drone from the roadside to see what I could uncover, and it turned out to be far more intriguing than expected. What I’d spotted was likely the High Bearing chimney, part of the infrastructure supporting the extensive East Mines operation that once thrived here in the 19th and early 20th centuries.
From the air, the site reveals not just the chimney, but traces of buildings, spoil heaps, and industrial earthworks that hint at a much larger footprint beneath the surface. The drone captured the site in soft moorland light, with shadows picking out the geometry of old walls, foundations and paths, long since overtaken by nature. It’s one of those locations that speaks to how much history still lies out there, quietly blending into the landscape - definitely one to come back tofor a full wander and a deeper dive into its story.
Bank Top Kilns – A Rugged Reminder of Moorland Industry
The Bank Top Kilns, perched on the edge of the North York Moors above Rosedale, are among the best surviving features of the area’s ironstone mining heritage. These kilns were used in the calcining process, where raw ironstone was heated to remove impurities before being loaded onto wagons and sent along the Rosedale Railway. Built in the late 19th century, the kilns operated during the height of the iron boom and are part of a wider landscape still marked by tracks, spoil heaps, and the remnants of once-busy industrial life.
From the air, the kilns are striking - bold stone structures clinging to the edge of the moor, with dramatic drops and far-reaching views across the valley. The drone captured the arched fronts of the kilns, dark and weathered against the earth, as well as the scarred land behind where loading platforms and tracks once stood. It’s a powerful place - isolated, raw and full of history - and seeing it from above gives a real sense of the scale and effort it once took to pull iron from this remote landscape
Wrapping Up the Day
From the seaside charm of Saltburn Pier to the weathered remains of the Rosedale ironstone industry, today was the perfect mix of coastal character and moorland grit. What began under a blanket of grey sky opened up into bursts of blue, high cloud, and golden light - just the right combination for capturing everything from railway relics to ruined kilns.
Some spots were planned, others were accidental discoveries from the roadside - like the water tank marked simply as "Tank" or the chimney stack at High Bearing, which turned out to be far more than a lone structure. And as always, seeing these places from above revealed details and stories you’d never spot on foot. The North York Moors continue to be a landscape full of surprises - steeped in history, shaped by hard graft, and packed with places worth going back to. Another brilliant day out, and plenty of reasons to return.
