Yorkshire Moors

Walks

Walking with dogs in the North York Moors

The North York Moors are a wonderful place to walk with a dog, open moorland, forest trails, waterfalls and coast. But the open, farmed and wildlife-rich landscape comes with a few real responsibilities. Get these right and you and your dog will be welcome everywhere.

A dog on a lead on a moorland path in the North York Moors

The rules that matter

Keep your dog on a lead around livestock at all times, the moors and dales are grazed by sheep (and sometimes cattle and semi-wild ponies), and a loose dog near sheep, especially in the spring lambing season, can do real harm and put your dog at risk too. On open access (moorland) land there's also a legal requirement to keep dogs on a short lead from 1 March to 31 July to protect ground-nesting birds, curlew, lapwing, golden plover and merlin all nest on the open ground, and a dog running through the heather can destroy a nest without ever touching it. Beyond that, the usual applies: keep to paths, clean up after your dog every time, and close gates behind you.

Seasonal hazards to know

A few things worth knowing on the moors and in the woods:

  • Adders. Britain's only venomous snake basks on heath and moorland in the warmer months. They're 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, 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, don't 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 walks to try

Most of the walks on this site suit a dog on a lead. Good places to start: the Hole of Horcum (wonderful, but keep to the path and on a lead across Levisham Moor), the Bridestones, Mallyan Spout, and the gentle riverside stroll at Thornton-le-Dale. For woodland on wetter days, the waymarked trails of Dalby Forest are ideal, just be tick-aware.

A mossy woodland beck in the North York Moors, a good spot for a dog walk on wet days
Woodland becks make a cooler, shaded alternative to open moor on warmer days.

Dog-friendly pubs, cafés and places to stay

Yorkshire is a dog-friendly county and many village inns, tea gardens and cafés across the moors welcome dogs, it's always worth a quick check ahead, especially for indoor seating and food areas. Plenty of accommodation is dog-friendly too. See where to stay and our dog-friendly accommodation guide.

A quick pre-walk checklist

Lead, poo bags, water and a bowl, a towel for muddy paws, and a check of 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.

For the full picture on beaches, pubs, lambing and village-by-village dog notes, see our complete North York Moors with dogs guide.

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.

Where is the Kilburn White Horse, and what are the famous landmarks?

The Kilburn White Horse, cut in 1857 below Sutton Bank, is England's most northerly hill figure; other landmarks include Captain Cook's Monument, the Bridestones, Ralph Cross (the park's symbol) and the Wainstones.

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What are the Hole of Horcum, Roseberry Topping and the Cleveland Way?

The Hole of Horcum is a vast natural amphitheatre about 400 ft deep off the A169; Roseberry Topping is the distinctive 320 m "Yorkshire Matterhorn" near Great Ayton; the Cleveland Way is the 109-mile National Trail looping from Helmsley around the moors to the coast.

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Are the North York Moors good for walking, and where are the best walks?

Outstanding, over 1,400 miles of paths, from the 109-mile Cleveland Way (Helmsley to Filey) to countless short circuits. Classics include the Hole of Horcum, Roseberry Topping, Mallyan Spout at Goathland and the Helmsley–Rievaulx Abbey walk.

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What is the highest point in the North York Moors?

Round Hill on Urra Moor, at 454 metres (1,490 feet). It sits on the Cleveland Way and the Lyke Wake Walk above Bilsdale, and the usual approach is the roughly three-kilometre climb from the Clay Bank car park.

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When does the heather bloom on the North York Moors?

Typically mid-August to early September, when the moors turn a spectacular purple; the Hole of Horcum and the high moor roads are classic viewing spots. Exact timing shifts a little year to year with the weather.

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What are the best viewpoints in the North York Moors?

Sutton Bank ("the finest view in England"), the Hole of Horcum, Roseberry Topping, the Blakey Ridge road across the high moor, and the cliff tops of the Cleveland Way on the coast.

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