Walks
Walks in the North York Moors
From twenty-minute riverside strolls to full days on the heather. These are the routes we send friends on.
What walking in the Yorkshire Moors is actually like
The moors are high, open and exposed — but rarely steep for long. Most classic routes climb out of a wooded dale, run along a level moorland edge with enormous views, then drop back down. Paths are generally well trodden and waymarked, but the moor tops have few landmarks, so carry OS Explorer OL26 or OL27 and don't rely on phone signal.
Ground conditions matter more than distance here. After heavy rain the peat and bracken sections hold water, and the flagged causeways can be slippery. Boots, a windproof layer and more water than you think you need cover almost every day out.
Nesting season on the moors runs roughly March to July — keep dogs on leads across open moorland, and check for grouse shooting notices in late summer and autumn.
Walk guides
Hole of Horcum walk
The park's most photographed hollow, from the Saltergate car park on the A169.
The Bridestones walk
Weathered sandstone outcrops above Dalby Forest, on a National Trust nature reserve.
Mallyan Spout walk
Goathland's waterfall in a wooded gorge — short, scrambly and often wet underfoot.
Walks near Thornton-le-Dale
Gentle beck-side and field walks from one of Yorkshire's prettiest villages.