Yorkshire Moors

Wildlife spot

Ravenscar, seals and clifftop

The clifftop at Ravenscar looks down on a colony of grey and common seals hauled out on the rocks below, the most dependable seal watching on this stretch of the Yorkshire coast.

Rocky shoreline below the cliffs on the North York Moors coast, the kind of ledges seals haul out on

What you might see

Grey and common seals on the rocks below the cliffs. Grey seals pup in November and common seals in summer, so there is something to see most of the year, take binoculars, because the animals are a long way down.

Watching responsibly

Watch from above and never approach or descend to the colony: disturbed seals stampede into the sea and pups get separated or crushed. Keep dogs well back and on a lead.

Getting there and parking

National Trust and informal parking at Ravenscar, with a National Trust centre and tea room nearby. Classic-car parking is owner-to-confirm and campervan suitability unconfirmed. Nearest fuel is Whitby or Scarborough.

Access

Not step-free, the clifftop paths are rough and exposed, and the old road down to the shore is steep. Dogs are welcome on the clifftop on a lead.

Nearby

Ravenscar sits on the Cleveland Way between Robin Hood's Bay and Scarborough. Details verified August 2026.

Map and how to get there

Area
Ravenscar (coast)
Coordinates
54.4010, -0.4890
Parking
Off-road parking available, Owner to confirm (National Trust / informal parking)
Nearest fuel
Whitby or Scarborough
Access
Not step-free — clifftop paths with uneven ground; National Trust centre and tea room nearby.
Driving directionsOpen the larger mapBuild a day around it

More to see nearby

Wildlife spot

Wykeham Forest Raptor Viewpoint

Wykeham Forest (Pickering–Scarborough)

Late winter for displaying goshawk; summer for honey buzzard.

Wildlife spot

Forge Valley National Nature Reserve

West Ayton (near Scarborough)

Not season-specific in our notes — woodland birds use the feeders year-round.

Wildlife spot

Fen Bog nature reserve

Newtondale, near Goathland

Late spring into summer, when dragonflies and butterflies are on the wing.

Wildlife spot

Scaling Dam Reservoir

A171 (northern moor edge)

Autumn and winter, when wildfowl and wader numbers are highest.

Nearby guide

Ravenscar

The village itself: National Trust centre, tea room and clifftop views.

Nearby guide

The Cleveland Way

The coast path runs through Ravenscar to Robin Hood's Bay.

Nearby guide

The coast

Beaches, fossils and harbour villages along this shoreline.

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.

What wildlife can you see in the North York Moors?

Moorland birds including red grouse, curlew, golden plover and the merlin (Britain's smallest bird of prey), deer, and on the coast seals and seabirds, with occasional whales and dolphins offshore. Spring brings lambs and daffodils.

Things to do →

What is there to do in the North York Moors in winter?

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 →

What are the top things to do in the North York Moors?

Ride the North Yorkshire Moors Railway, walk the heather moors and the Cleveland Way, explore Rievaulx and Whitby abbeys, see the Hole of Horcum and Sutton Bank, visit Goathland and Thornton-le-Dale, and spend a day on the coast at Whitby or Robin Hood's Bay.

Things to do →

What can you do in the North York Moors when it rains?

Ride the steam railway, visit museums (Beck Isle Museum in Pickering, the Ryedale Folk Museum at Hutton-le-Hole, Whitby's museums), explore abbey visitor centres, or browse the shops and tearooms of Helmsley and Whitby.

Pickering guide →

What do I need to know about driving in the North York Moors?

Moor roads are scenic but narrow, with blind summits, cattle grids and sheep. Sometimes free-roaming through villages like Goathland, on unfenced roads, so drive slowly and use passing places. High routes such as Blakey Ridge can be bleak or closed in snow.

Driving routes →

Is it free to visit the North York Moors, and what does it cost?

The national park is free to enter, and most walking, moorland and viewpoints cost nothing; you pay only for parking, attractions (abbeys, the railway, museums) and refreshments. Prices vary, so check official sites.

About the Yorkshire Moors →