Where are the Yorkshire Moors?

The short answer

The Yorkshire Moors are in North Yorkshire, north-east England. Officially the North York Moors National Park, they cover about 554 square miles between the Vale of York in the west and the North Sea in the east, roughly 30 miles north of York, 40 miles south of Newcastle, and reaching the coast at Whitby, Robin Hood's Bay and Staithes.

The park is not the same place as the Yorkshire Dales, which lie about 50 miles to the west on the other side of the A1. The moors are higher, heathery and closer to the sea; the dales are greener, walled and inland.

Yorkshire Moors map

This map of the North York Moors shows towns, villages, walk starts, car parks and railway stations, with the National Park boundary.

For official access information, use the National Park Authority rights-of-way map. For walking, carry OS Explorer OL26 and OL27 rather than relying on a phone; mobile signal is patchy on the tops.

What sits on each side

• West: the Hambleton and Cleveland Hills, the steep escarpment at Sutton Bank, and Helmsley as the western gateway town.
• South: the gentler Tabular Hills easing down to Pickering, Thornton-le-Dale and Allerston, with Dalby Forest in between.
• East: the coast, Whitby, Robin Hood's Bay, Staithes and Runswick Bay, all on the Cleveland Way clifftops.
• North: the Esk Valley, Guisborough and the edge of Teesside, with Roseberry Topping standing over it.
• Middle: the high heather plateau and the dales cut into it, Rosedale, Farndale, Hutton-le-Hole and Goathland.

Getting here by car

Most visitors drive. The A64 from York and Leeds brings you to Malton and Pickering for the southern edge; the A19 from Teesside and the A1(M) serve the north and west; the A171 connects Whitby with Scarborough along the eastern side. The two main crossings of the park are the A169 Pickering to Whitby road, past the Hole of Horcum and the RAF Fylingdales radar, and the Blakey Ridge moor-top road from Hutton-le-Hole to Castleton.

Times are to the southern gateway around Pickering in normal traffic; add half an hour or more in summer, and allow extra for the slow, beautiful last few miles. Fuel is limited on the moor tops, so fill up in the market towns.

Getting here by train

There is no station in the middle of the moors, but several sit on the edge: Whitby and Middlesbrough on the Esk Valley line, Scarborough and Malton from York, and Thirsk on the East Coast Main Line for the western hills. From Whitby or Grosmont you can transfer straight onto the North Yorkshire Moors Railway and steam through the park to Goathland, Levisham and Pickering. The most enjoyable way in. Check current timetables before travelling.

Getting around without a car

It takes planning but it works. The Coastliner bus links Leeds and York with Malton, Pickering, Thornton-le-Dale, Goathland and Whitby; the seasonal Moorsbus reaches inland villages on summer weekends; and the heritage railway covers the Pickering to Whitby corridor. Combine bus or train with a linear walk, the walks section flags routes that start near a stop. Always confirm seasonal services on the operator's own site before you rely on them.

How big is it, really?

About 35 miles east to west and 25 miles north to south, small on paper, slow in practice. Pickering to Whitby takes about 40 minutes; Helmsley to Whitby is closer to 1 hour 10. Plan two or three anchors a day rather than six, and see our weekend itinerary for a workable shape to a first visit.

Frequently asked questions

Where is the North York Moors?

The North York Moors National Park is in North Yorkshire, north-east England, roughly 30 miles north of York. It runs from the Vale of York in the west to the North Sea coast at Whitby, Robin Hood's Bay and Staithes in the east.

What is the highest point in the North York Moors?

Round Hill on Urra Moor, at 454 metres (about 1,490 feet).

How do you get to the North York Moors from York without a car?

Trains run from York to Malton and Scarborough on the edge of the park. The Coastliner bus links York with Malton, Pickering, Thornton-le-Dale, Goathland and Whitby, and the North Yorkshire Moors Railway runs on from Pickering into the moors; check current timetables before travelling.

Where are the Yorkshire Moors?

The Yorkshire Moors, officially the North York Moors National Park, lie in North Yorkshire in north-east England, between the Vale of York to the west, the Vale of Pickering to the south and the North Sea coast at Whitby and Scarborough in the east, roughly 30 miles north of York.

Are the Yorkshire Moors and the North York Moors the same place?

Yes. 'Yorkshire Moors' is the popular everyday name; 'North York Moors' is the official name of the National Park. The Yorkshire Dales, to the west, is a separate national park.

What is the nearest train station to the North York Moors?

Whitby, Scarborough, Malton, Thirsk and Middlesbrough all sit on the edge of the park. From Grosmont and Whitby you can join the North Yorkshire Moors Railway to travel into the heart of the moors by steam.

How long does it take to drive across the North York Moors?

It is about 35 miles east to west and 25 miles north to south, but the roads are slow and winding. Allow about forty minutes to cross from Pickering to Whitby on the A169, and longer on the moor-top lanes.

Do you need a car to visit the Yorkshire Moors?

A car makes the villages and moor roads far easier, but you can visit car-free using trains to Whitby or Malton, the Moorsbus and Coastliner services, and the North Yorkshire Moors Railway between Pickering, Goathland and Grosmont.

Highest point source: Get Lost Mountaineering, Round Hill on Urra Moor. For car-free days, see getting around without a car.