North York Moors National Park

The smallest of the National Parks, the North York Moors comprise a high plateau bounded on the north by the Plain of Cleveland and on the south by the vales of Pickering and York. The park is at its scenic best in August and September, when the purple heather is in bloom. On the north and south the moors are etched by deep valleys, or dales, and the eastern boundary of the park ends in a spectacular coastline.

		North York Moors near Stape, north of Pickering

One of the most popular dales with visitors is Farndale, where the springtime daffodil displays bring people flocking to the walk between Low Mill and Church houses.

For a memorable walk, trace the course of the defunct Rosedale Railway over the moors from Rosedale to Ingleby Greenhow. These high moors are home to a variety of birdlife, including curlews, golden plovers, and merlins.

Wheeldale Moor

The Cleveland Way National Trail hugs the rim of the moor, and a trip along it provides excellent views. Along the trail is the distinctive Roseberry Topping, which looks, if you use your imagination, like a miniature version of the Matterhorn. This region is home to Captain Cook, whose father worked on a farm at the foot of the Topping.

Worth Seeing:
Moors Centre (Danby) - information centre for the park, with 13 acres of woods and meadow walks.
Esk Valley Walk - 33 mile trail between Farndale Moor and Whitby following the route of the Esk Valley railway and the Esk river to the sea.
Ravenscar Geological Trail - walks of 2.5 and 4.5 miles following the course of the Peak Fault, past disused alum quarries. The area is rich in fossils.
Rievaulx Abbey - this extremely popular medieval abbey sits in woodland bisected by 12 lovely walks.
Hayburn Wyke (Staintondale) - path beside Thorny Beck, with its series of waterfalls, through a nature reserve to the sea.

Robin Hoods Bay

Ordnance Survey maps covering the North York Moors:
Explorer OS maps (Scale: 4cm = 1 km / 1: 25000) - best for walking
EX027 North York Moors - Eastern Area
EX026 North York Moors - Western Area

Landranger OS maps (Scale: 2cm = 1km / 1: 50000)
LR101 SCARBOROUGH/BRID
LR100 MALTON. PICKERING
LR094 WHITBY

Contact
North Yorkshire Moors National Park
The Old Vicarage, Bondgate
Helmsley
York YO6 5BP
Phone +44 (0) 1439 770657
Fax +44 (0) 1439 770691
Website: www.moors.uk.net/

Visitor Centres
The Moors Centre
Danby
Tel +44 (0) 1439 772737
Fax +44 (0) 1287 660308
Email: moorscentre@northyorkmoors-npa.gov.uk

Sutton Bank
Tel +44 (0) 1845 597426
Fax: +44 (0) 1845 597113
Email: suttonbank@ytbtic.co.uk

Old Coastguard Station
Robin Hoods Bay
telephone +44 (0) 1947 885900
Tel yorkshirecoast@ntrust.org.uk

All photos © David Ross and Britain Express

Related:
Yorkshire Travel Guide
Northeast England

Yorkshire Travel Guide

Yorkshire Overview - Yorkshire Tourist Information Centres - Yorkshire travel links Attractions in Yorkshire - categories Abbeys - Castles - Churches - Gardens - Historic Houses - Museums - Roman - Towns and Villages Featured attractions Castle Howard - Harewood House - North York Moors - Robin Hoods Bay - York - Yorkshire Dales Accommodation Hotels in Yorkshire - Self Catering Cottages in Yorkshire - Bed and Breakfast in York Travel Services  Car Rental in York