Polar Express!

Visitors to Saltburn looked on in amusement as 36 year old Gareth Ellis, from Great Broughton, dressed himself in a red suit and strode up and down the shoreline pulling two heavy tyres and a rucksack.
Gareth is in training for The Polar Challenge - a 350-nautical mile sled race on foot to the Magnetic North Pole. Determined to help boost his expedition fees, Gareth decided to complete his training dressed as Santa Claus.
“Well it’s Christmas isn’t it?” he said as he headed towards Saltburn Pier.
Gareth has pledged to donate 30% of funds raised to the NSPCC, the Juvenile Diabetes Fund and research into polar bear habitats.
To support Gareth call 07740 078012

Road to the Isles!

A special train will head for the Hebrides as the age of Pullman luxury returns to Saltburn.
For several years, Loftus GP Rob Dallara and friends have hired a plush train to take trippers from Saltburn on a yearly jaunt.
They’ve been to Fort William, Chester, Cornwall, Inverness and, earlier this year, Canterbury.
Now bookings are being taken for a four day trip on June 20-23 next year to Oban and the Western Isles.
The Saltburn Hebridean will feature Pullman coaches hauled by heritage diesel locomotives, posh nosh on the train and the choice of three or four star accommodation.
Only about 60 of the 270 seats remain for a trip which also includes optional excursions.
It’s planned the train will head for Oban in Scotland via Newcastle and Carlisle.
Tickets are £340 per person, excluding excursions.

Visit Saltburn Rail Tours for more information.

Late Summer ends.

Tens of thousands of visitors flocked to Saltburn beach this mixed-weather summer, which officially ended in November with the cliff-lift shutting for the winter.
The lift, which had carried over 101,000 people up to last weekend, was kept open an extra month following a late burst of Indian summer weather. It was open all week to cater for school half-term holidays.
Last year it carried 102,000 visitors and its use is a barometer of Saltburn’s summer season business. The record number of passengers was 112,000 in 2001. “We’ve had more rain than sun this year and the Indian summer came a little late to help trade,” said veteran beach shop and café owner Edna Vernon. “On hot days we do quite well, but when it rains no one comes.”
Mrs Vernon has invested thousands of pounds in a new shop and takeaway at her rebuilt café near Cat Nab. It is due to open next March.
Nick Noble, who runs the surfing school and equipment hire side of Saltburn’s surf shop, said: “We've done well this year.” Colleague Gary Rogers said: “We’ve had a pretty good autumn and the surf has been tremendous. On a good day we’ve averaged 40 surfers, some from Leeds,
Cumbria and Durham.”
A Redcar and Cleveland Council spokesman said the cliff lift had taken over £49,000 for the year so far and the total expenditure was £67,750. “This is a fantastic and well-loved attraction and we welcome its continuing success.”
The spokesman said there was no planned opening date for the restaurant at the controversial foreshore building opposite the pier. Saltburn Foreshore Committee, made up of businesses and beach users, said it is looking forward to the opening of a community room at the newly-painted building.
Ten new dog and litter bins are to be placed on the lower promenade next spring.