Yorkshire Moors

Classic Car Touring

Classic car touring in the UK

Everything you need before you point an old car at a long weekend: the paperwork that decides whether you need an MOT or pay road tax, the kit that gets you home when something lets go, and the routes worth the fuel. Written from the driving seat of cars that are older than most of the roads they use.

Start here

MOT and road tax exemption

The 40-year rules in plain English: the V112 declaration, the historic tax class, and what ‘substantially changed’ actually means. See our full guide to classic car MOT and tax exemption.

The classic car breakdown kit

What to carry, why, and the ten-minute checks that stop most roadside failures before they happen.

Best classic car road trips in Yorkshire

Five tested routes across the North York Moors and the coast, with driving times, fuel stops and gradients to think twice about.

Plan a classic car weekend

A three-day moors itinerary with roads, pubs, parking and seasonal variants.

Why these three first

The questions owners actually ask before a tour fall into three groups: is the car legal, will it get home, and where should it go? Everything else, polish, period picnic rugs, which hat, is decoration. Work through the paperwork once a year, keep a boot box packed, and the rest of it is just driving.

Top answers for the Yorkshire Moors

All questions in the full FAQ hub →

Quick, straight answers to the questions visitors ask most. Each one links through to the fuller guide.

Can you visit the North York Moors without a car?

Yes, though a car helps for the remote moor. The Yorkshire Coastliner bus (York–Malton–Pickering–Goathland–Whitby) is one of Britain's most scenic routes, the Esk Valley line serves the northern dales and Whitby, the seasonal Moorsbus reaches the high moors, and the North Yorkshire Moors Railway links Pickering, Goathland and Whitby.

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What do I need to know about driving in the North York Moors?

Moor roads are scenic but narrow, with blind summits, cattle grids and sheep. Sometimes free-roaming through villages like Goathland, on unfenced roads, so drive slowly and use passing places. High routes such as Blakey Ridge can be bleak or closed in snow.

Driving routes →

What are the best scenic drives in the North York Moors?

The Blakey Ridge road across the high moor (Hutton-le-Hole to Castleton, past the Lion Inn), the coast road between Whitby and Scarborough, and the A170 over Sutton Bank are the classics.

Driving routes →

How do I get to the North York Moors?

By car it's about 4 to 4.5 hours from London (A1(M)/A19), under an hour from York or Leeds, and minutes from Teesside. By train, reach York, Malton, Thirsk or Scarborough on the main line, then continue by bus or the Esk Valley line.

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Is the North York Moors a good day trip from York, and how far is it?

Yes, the western and southern moors are under an hour from York, so Helmsley, Rievaulx, Sutton Bank and Pickering all work as day trips, and Whitby is reachable by the Coastliner bus or a scenic drive.

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How many days do you need in the North York Moors?

Two to three days lets you sample moors, coast and the steam railway; a week rewards you with abbeys, quiet dales, coastal villages and proper walking. Even a single day, often from York, takes in a highlight or two.

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