The North York Moors with dogs

Dog-friendly walks

Moor, forest and coast. Take your pick. The Cleveland Way runs 109 miles across moorland and clifftop; Dalby Forest is a favourite for letting dogs stretch their legs on waymarked trails, and its shaded tracks are the best answer to a wet or a very warm day; and there are gentler walks around the villages and becks. Just remember the moors are working farmland.

Reliable routes with manageable going and water or shade along the way:

• Thornton-le-Dale, easy beck-side paths and village greens.
• The Bridestones, a short moorland circuit on firm paths.
• The Hole of Horcum, wonderful, but keep to the path and on a lead across Levisham Moor.
• Mallyan Spout, a short wooded walk to a waterfall from Goathland.
• The Cinder Track, flat, shaded and excellent for a steady dog trot.
• Whitby to Sandsend, beach at low tide, with fresh water at Sandsend.

Seasonal hazards to know

• Adders. Britain's only venomous snake basks on heath and moorland in the warmer months. They are shy and will usually move off, but keep your dog on the path and out of deep heather in spring and summer. If your dog is bitten, keep them calm and get to a vet quickly.
• Ticks. Common in bracken and long grass, so check your dog over after a walk, especially in spring and autumn.
• Water. In high summer some still water can carry blue-green algae, which is dangerous to dogs. Do not let them drink from or swim in water with a scummy, paint-like surface.
• Heat and open ground. Much of the moor is shadeless, so carry water on warm days.

Dog-friendly beaches

North Yorkshire Council operates a dog control Public Space Protection Order covering parts of Scarborough, Filey and Whitby between 1 May and 30 September. Inside those marked areas dogs are excluded or must be kept on a lead; outside them, and outside those dates, the beaches are open to dogs. The boundaries are specific stretches rather than whole towns, and they are reviewed periodically, so check the council's current dog control map for the Scarborough, Filey and Whitby area before you travel. Saltburn sits in Redcar and Cleveland and has its own separate seasonal restrictions.

Beaches guide

Village-by-village dog notes

These links jump straight to the dog-friendly notes on each village page, so you can plan where to walk, where to eat and what to avoid.

Dog-friendly pubs

You're rarely far from a welcoming pub, most of our recommended dog-friendly inns keep dogs happy by the fire, from the Lion Inn on Blakey Ridge to village locals like the Buck in Thornton-le-Dale. The Fox & Rabbit at Lockton and the Cayley Arms at Allerston do not take dogs inside. It's always worth a quick call ahead if you plan to eat.

Local rules & lambing

This is a living, working landscape. Keep dogs on a lead around livestock, especially during spring lambing, and on the open moor between March and July, when ground-nesting birds such as curlew and lapwing are raising their chicks. A dog running through the heather can destroy a nest without ever touching it. Clean up after your dog, stick to paths through farmland, close gates behind you, and mind cattle grids and quiet moor roads. A little courtesy keeps the moors open to dogs.

A quick pre-walk checklist

Lead, poo bags, water and a bowl, a towel for muddy paws, and a look at the forecast, the moor tops are exposed and the weather turns fast. With those in the bag, the moors are one of the best places in the country to walk a dog.

Dog-friendly North York Moors FAQs

Are dogs allowed in Dalby Forest?

Yes, dogs are welcome throughout Dalby Forest. Keep them under close control and on a lead near the car parks, play areas and any livestock.

Which North York Moors beaches are dog-friendly all year?

North Yorkshire Council operates a dog control Public Space Protection Order covering parts of Scarborough, Filey and Whitby between 1 May and 30 September. Inside those marked areas dogs are excluded or must be kept on a lead; outside them, and outside those dates, the beaches are open to dogs.

Do I need to keep my dog on a lead on the moors?

Keep dogs on a lead around livestock, and on open access moorland there is a legal requirement to use a short lead from 1 March to 31 July to protect ground-nesting birds. Elsewhere, well-controlled dogs can often be off-lead, but always follow local signs.

Are there dog-friendly pubs in the North York Moors?

Plenty. Many moorland inns and village pubs welcome dogs, often with water bowls and treats by the fire. It's worth calling ahead if you want to eat.

What hazards should I watch for when walking a dog on the moors?

Adders bask on heath and moorland in warmer months, ticks live in bracken and long grass, still water can carry blue-green algae in high summer, and much of the moor has no shade at all. Keep to the path, check your dog over afterwards, and carry water.

Where to stay with your dog

Many of the area's self-catering cottages welcome dogs, and several inns allow them in the bar. See where to stay and the dog-friendly accommodation guide. If you are touring with a classic car as well, there is also the Bangers & Cash accommodation guide.

The village and classic-car sister sites linked here are also written by the author of this guide.