In season
The North York Moors in autumn
Bracken turning gold and copper, woodland colour into November, the deer rut and fungi, and the return of some of England's darkest skies.
Read the autumn guide
North Yorkshire, England
The Yorkshire Moors: wild, beautiful and unforgettable
Purple heather moorland, ancient forest, steam railways and a rugged coast. Your guide to exploring every corner of the North York Moors.
Yorkshire Moors or North York Moors?
Both names describe the same place. Most people search for the Yorkshire Moors; the national park authority calls it the North York Moors. It runs from Helmsley in the west to the cliffs at Whitby and Robin Hood's Bay in the east, with the Hambleton and Cleveland Hills to the north and the Tabular Hills easing down towards Pickering and Thornton-le-Dale in the south.
It holds the largest continuous stretch of heather moorland in England and Wales. It is spectacular in late August, when the whole plateau turns purple. There are also deep wooded dales, Dalby Forest, a Dark Sky Reserve, ruined abbeys, and a heritage railway that still runs steam through the middle of it all.
This guide is organised the way a visit actually works: pick the things you want to do, find a walk to suit the day, choose a village to base yourself in, then plan the practical bits.
New to the area? Start with where the Yorkshire Moors are, a map and how to get here for location, driving times, trains and buses in one place.
The big draws
If you only remember five things about the North York Moors, make it these.
The top 10 places to visit
Whitby, Rievaulx, Goathland, Sutton Bank and more. The best of the moors in one list.
North Yorkshire Moors Railway
Steam from Pickering to Whitby via Goathland, one of the busiest heritage lines in the world.
Dalby Forest
Mountain bike trails, play areas, forest drive and the Go Ape treetop course.
Dark sky stargazing
One of the darkest skies in England. The Milky Way is visible with the naked eye.
The moors coast
Whitby, Robin Hood's Bay, Staithes and fossil-hunting beneath the cliffs.
Bangers and Cash at Mathewsons
The Thornton-le-Dale classic car auction house made famous by the TV series.
The Hole of Horcum
A vast natural amphitheatre scooped out of the moor, with a superb circular walk.
Villages & places
Thornton-le-Dale, Pickering, Helmsley, Goathland, Levisham and Allerston, where to base yourself and what each one is good for.
Explore the villages
Things to do
Steam trains, forest trails, the coast, cycling, stargazing and rainy-day options that don't feel like a compromise.
See things to do
Where to stay
Self-catering cottages, village inns and farmhouse rooms across the park, from the southern villages to the coast.
Find a place to stayLatest from the Moors
New writing from the guide, touring-journal trips out in the classic cars and news from across the North York Moors.
Yorkshire Moors questions
- Is the Yorkshire Moors the same as the North York Moors?
- Yes. 'Yorkshire Moors' is what most visitors call it; the official name of the national park is the North York Moors. Both refer to the same 554 square miles of heather moorland, dales, forest and coast in North Yorkshire.
- What is the North York Moors best known for?
- Britain's largest expanse of heather moorland, the North Yorkshire Moors Railway, a Dark Sky Reserve at Dalby Forest, dramatic sea cliffs at Whitby and Robin Hood's Bay, and postcard villages such as Thornton-le-Dale, Goathland and Helmsley.
- How many days do you need in the North York Moors?
- Two days covers the highlights: one for the moors and the steam railway, one for the coast. Three to five days lets you add walks, Dalby Forest, stargazing and the villages at a proper pace.