The Journey
A retired man, a faithful dog, a classic car and God's own country. This is the human heart of the guide, the real journeys behind it: classic-car drives over the moors, the villages and country pubs we find along the way, and what a second life in the North York Moors actually looks like, one drive at a time.
New here? Start with the story behind the journey →
Written by Jon Cosson
Jon Cosson is a lifelong classic-car enthusiast based in North Yorkshire, near Thornton-le-Dale on the southern edge of the North York Moors. After a career in cyber security and IT, he now spends his time touring the moors in the classic cars he owns, a Jaguar E-Type, a Jaguar Mk2, an MG TF, an AC Aceca and a Triumph Stag, and writing up the journeys here.
Five classics that take turns on the moor roads, each with its own character and its own kind of day out.
Our signature moor-tourer: a proper British sports saloon, four doors, and pure Bangers & Cash country.
The icon, for the days the roads deserve something special.
Open-top, wind-in-the-hair moor motoring at its most traditional. MG T-Series Archive
A rare, all-independent GT with a glorious straight-six soundtrack. AC Aceca Archive
V8 grand touring, Italian-styled, made for sweeping moor roads. Triumph Stag Archive
The cars in this journal have their own reference sites, history, specifications and practical ownership notes, kept separately from this visitor guide.
The AC Aceca archive, history, specifications and ownership notes.
The MG T-Series archive, TC, TD and TF reference and servicing.
The Triumph Stag archive, the alloy V8 and living with it.
The Jaguar Mk2 archive, the definitive British sports saloon.
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.
Quick, straight answers to the questions visitors ask most. Each one links through to the fuller guide.
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.
Touring Journal →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.
Touring Journal →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.
Touring Journal →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.
Touring Journal →Nearest airports are Teesside International, Leeds Bradford and Newcastle, with Manchester the largest within reach. Main-line stations at York, Malton, Thirsk and Scarborough ring the park, and Whitby and the northern dales are served by the scenic Esk Valley line from Middlesbrough.
Touring Journal →Stargazing (it's an International Dark Sky Reserve), bracing coastal and moorland walks, cosy country pubs, and the North Yorkshire Moors Railway's festive steam services. The moors are atmospheric and empty in winter.
What's on →