Yorkshire Moors

Wildlife spot

Scaling Dam Reservoir

By Jon Cosson · Updated 10 October 2026

A big sheet of open water on the northern moor edge, right beside the A171 between Whitby and Guisborough. With a bird hide and an easy stop-off for anyone driving the moor road.

Open moorland scenery on the northern edge of the North York Moors near Scaling Dam

What you might see

Wildfowl and waders, best in autumn and winter when numbers build. A sailing club uses the water as well, so expect boats on breezy weekends.

Getting there and parking

There is a car park directly off the A171, which makes it one of the easiest wildlife stops in the park. Check before you travel. Nearest fuel is Whitby or Guisborough.

Access

Partly step-free from the car park towards the hide. Check before you travel. Keep dogs on leads near the water and away from roosting birds.

Nearby

It sits neatly on a drive between Whitby and the northern moors, see the wildlife guide for what to look for month by month. Details verified August 2026.

Map and how to get there

Area
A171 (northern moor edge)
Coordinates
54.5030, -0.8840
Parking
Off-road parking available Check before you travel.
Nearest fuel
Whitby or Guisborough
Access
Partly step-free from the car park off the A171; the going to the hide is level but unsurfaced in places.
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

Ravenscar — seals & clifftop

Ravenscar (coast)

Seals year-round; grey seals pup in November and common seals in summer.

Nearby guide

Whitby

Half an hour east along the A171 for the harbour and the abbey.

Nearby guide

Classic car driving routes

The A171 moor road is one of the best drives in the park.

Nearby guide

Wildlife of the North York Moors

What to look for across the park, month by month.

Where to stay in the North York Moors

Self-catering cottages, village inns and farmhouse boltholes right across the moors, from the southern villages to the coast.

Browse places to stay

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.

Wildlife →

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 →