North York Moors

For a walk on the wild side, why not explore the stunning scenery of the North York Moors National Park - from coast to moorland!

Ideas for places to go and things to do to explore the moors at their very best...

The North Yorkshire Moors is certainly one of the most lovely areas in Britain - as a loyal Yorkshire lass, I certainly think so!

This is a beautiful and, essentially, a wild landscape, of moorland, hills and valleys...

The North Yorkshire Moors is the largest area of heather moorland in England, which covers around 40% of the National Park area - around 50km!

The Moors National Park extends from Boulby on the coast in the north, to Cloughton, close to Scarborough in the South. It extends inland to Helmsley, Ampleforth and Osmotherley in the south and west.

For the purposes of this website, we will mainly be concerned with the more coastal and central areas of the National Park, within easy reach of the Yorkshire east coast.

Our North York Moors Story

Aside from crossing the moors' main roads to get to Whitby, until recently I had not had that much 'experience' of the North York Moors' wild moorland areas...

Ian's experiences are somewhat differing, he was born in the area, and was quite used to visiting relatives in the small moorland villages, as a child.

On a recent holiday, actually staying in the North York moors, and taking the opportunity to explore moorland villages and the coastland in a bit more depth, I was quite blown away by the sheer beauty, majesty and essential 'wildness' of the moors...

...and if you haven't yet experienced this beautiful, grand, natural landscape for yourself, I would highly recommend exploring off the beaten track...

Where we stayed - The Old Granary, Castleton near Whitby, holiday cottages

North York Moors Natural History

The North York Moors is a unique and interesting landscape - beautifully wild, but a landscape that's been inhabited by humans for more than 8,000 years!

Jurassic

• 210-145 million years ago, sandstones forming the hills were deposited, and then carved up by rivers, forming dramatic and deep dales.
• In the Upper Jurassic period, limestone areas too were set down.
• Boulby Cliffs (just north of Staithes) is the highest cliff on the English easy coast (666ft).

Prehistory

• We can see the evidence of humans who came to live here between 8-9,000 years ago.
• They cleared forest areas and built prehistoric cairns and barrow structures.

Iron Age

• We see hill forts and dykes from Iron Age people.

Romans

• Romans built forts, signal stations and roads (you can still see the Roman road 'Wade's Causeway' on the Moors)

Medieval

• In Medieval times, the moors became known as 'Blackamor' with a bleak and frightening reputation.
• In the 12th Century the Abbot of Rievaulx Abbey, St. Ailred, wrote that in the North York Moors he had found 'peace everywhere serenity and a marvellous freedom from the tumult of the world'.






Views across Danby Low Moor



• The monks built many fine abbeys across the moors, and laid down tracks and walkways to get across the moors.
• They also out up more than 30 stone crosses as waymarkers or preaching crosses, which can still be seen today.

Industrial Age

• From the 17th Century, industry had reached even this remote part of England:
  • mining of ironstone
  • quarries of sandstone and whinstone
  • jet extraction
  • alum
• In the 1860's there were more than 80 ironstone mines across the moors.
• The distinctive slope of Roseberry Topping today has actually been created by a landslip caused by heavy ironstone mining.

Tourism and Modern Day Life

• Not many tourists visited the area until the railways arrived in the 1830's - from then, though, a steady stream of visitors has come for a breath of fresh air, and to admire the scenery.






Views across to Castleton



• The North York Moors became a National Park in 1952. It was the 6th National Park to be created.
• It is also a SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest) and SPA (Special Protection Area).
• Several years ago, the polpularity of the Lyke Wake Long Distance Walk led to thousands of walkers trampling and destroying the delicate eco-system of the moorland. The National Park Authority had to step in and give the moors a break by requesting organisations cease publicising the walk.
• Today, the National Park Authority creates and manages a delicate balance between access for the public and the protection and maintenance of this unique landscape.
• The heather is managed by controlled burning, and the spread of invasive bracken is also controlled. The welfare of grouse and other moorland birds are also managed.






Spot the Grouse!



• There's plenty to do here:
  • walking
  • cycling
  • riding
• To protect the landscape, see if you can leave your car at home and reach your destination via:
  • Moorsbus
  • North York Moors Railway
  • Esk Valley Railway
• Visit The Moors Centre in Danby, run by the National Park Authority, for information about the Moors, and all the activities and walks you can enjoy here.

  More about Danby Visitors Centre - National Park Moors Centre

Places to Visit

Places in the North York Moors you might like to visit:

• Robin Hoods Bay (coastal village)
• Staithes (coastal village)
• Runswick Bay (coastal village)
• Hutton le Hole (moorland village, with folk museum)
• Castleton (moorland village)
• Goathland (moorland village and TV location)
• Danby (moorland village and moors centre)
• Grosmont (moorland village)
• Farndale Wild Daffodils (the Daffodil Dale)
• Rosedale and Rosedale Abbey (pretty valley)
• Hole of Horcum (natural amphitheatre - nature and walks)
• Falling Foss (waterfall and tea garden)
• Mallyan Spout (waterfall)
• Ravenscar (heritage coast)
• Sandsend (beach)
• Moorland Crosses
• Danby Visitors Centre - National Park Moors Centre

There are many events and exhibitions on at the Moors Centre and all around the National Park throughout the year - check out our What's On Guide to find out more about upcoming events

Walks

• Walk from Scalefoot Farm to Eskdale Inn, Castleton
• Clitherbeck Walk - short walk from Danby Visitors Centre
• Walk to Staithes from Hinderwell
• Farndale Wild Daffodils Walk
• Walk at Falling Foss Waterfall and Hermitage (with Tea Garden)
• Our Mallyan Spout Waterfall Walk

Where to Stay

Where we stayed - The Old Granary, Castleton near Whitby, holiday cottages

La Rosa Campsite, near Goathland

Inn on the Moor, Goathland

Oakley View B&B, Goathland (Michelle's Directory Submission)

Cropton Lodges - Forest Holiday at Cropton, near Pickering

Keldy Forest Lodges at Cropton, near Pickering

Eve's review of Keldy Forest Lodges

If the Forest Holidays or Mallyan Spout Hotel recommended on this page interest you, please support my website by using the links on this page to book.

The price to you is always the same, but I will earn a small commission.

This allows me to continue to provide you with the information on this website, all for free.

Thanks for your continued support :)

Where to Eat

The Feversham Arms, Church Houses, Farndale

Inn on the Moor, Goathland

The Crown Inn, Hutton le Hole
(Our Review)

The Crown Inn, Hutton le Hole
(Matt's Review)

Look at the official North York Moors website click here to visit, for more information, or when you are in the area, visit the Danby Visitors Centre - National Park Moors Centre.

There are also National Park info points at:

• Goathland Post Office
• The Railway Shop, Grosmont
• Post Office, Staithes
• Roseale Abbey
• Ryedale Folk Museum, Hutton le Hole
• Wardill Bros. Thornton le Dale
• The Top Shop, Osmotherley

Have you got your free subscription to 'Yorkshire Coast Lines' yet? Receive your free, monthly, e-mail newsletter, full of ideas for days out and excursions along the Yorkshire coast, and upcoming local events... straight to your inbox.

Custom Search

Bringing you ideas and information for your British holidays, short breaks and days out in the UK...

...from Whitby to Scarborough, Filey, Bridlington, Hornsea, Withernsea, North York Moors and beyond…

New! Comments