I believe that a genuine railway enthusiast will always prefer to use a 'main line' connection to reach a preserved line, if at all possible. When that 'main line' has a frequent service, all the more so. Keighley, Kidderminster, Bodmin Parkway, East Grinstead and no doubt others are ideal in that respect. I must admit that the Whitby - Grosmont - Whitby line, with its infrequent service, could be a bit nail-biting if you are relying on a connection at Grosmont at the end of the day, but Whitby is well connected by bus to Middlesbrough and Scarborough.