A classic sports car on an empty moorland road between banks of purple heather in the North York Moors

The Journey

The Touring Journal

By Jon Cosson · Updated 1 November 2026

Classic cars, car meetings and days out in the North York Moors, written up by the guide's author.

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Written by Jon Cosson

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

About the author

Jon Cosson is a lifelong classic-car enthusiast who lives locally in the North York Moors, near Thornton-le-Dale. After a career in cyber security and IT, he owns and drives a Jaguar E-Type, a Jaguar Mk2, an MG TF, an AC Aceca and a Triumph Stag, and writes up days out with them here.

The cars

Five classics that take turns on the moor roads, each with its own character and its own kind of day out.

  • Jaguar Mk2 3.8

    Our signature moor-tourer: a proper British sports saloon, four doors, and pure Jaguar Mk2 guidecountry.

  • Jaguar E-Type Series 1 3.8

    The icon, for the days the roads deserve something special. Jaguar E-Type guide

  • MG TF

    Open-top, wind-in-the-hair moor motoring at its most traditional. MG T-Series Archive

  • AC Aceca

    A rare, all-independent GT with a glorious straight-six soundtrack. AC Aceca Archive

  • Triumph Stag

    V8 grand touring, Italian-styled, made for sweeping moor roads. Triumph Stag Archive

The journals

The marque archives

The cars in this journal have their own reference sites, history, specifications and practical ownership notes, kept separately from this visitor guide.

  • AC Aceca

    The AC Aceca archive, history, specifications and ownership notes.

  • MG T-Series

    The MG T-Series archive, TC, TD and TF reference and servicing.

  • Triumph Stag

    The Triumph Stag archive, the alloy V8 and living with it.

  • Jaguar Mk2

    The Jaguar Mk2 archive, the definitive British sports saloon.

The roads themselves

The A169 to Whitby, Sutton Bank, Blakey Ridge, Rosedale Chimney Bank and the coast road, plus practical notes for taking an older car onto the moors. The driving routes behind these journeys are all set out in our guide to classic car driving routes.

Base yourself in the moors

Touring is easier from a doorstep on the moor edge, see our guide to the best areas and village bases for reaching the southern moor roads.

Browse places to stay