Yorkshire Net Guide to the North York Moors
Purple moors and rolling hills
A
National Park since 1952, a sense of space and solitude marks the North York
Moors. Ridge upon ridge of purple heather moorland extend into the distance.
The deep secret valleys which cut the plateau come almost as a surprise and
the warmth of their red-roofed villages contrasts with the upland solitude.
In spring, valleys such as Farndale come alive with daffodils.
Travel 18 miles through the North York Moors on the NYMR steam railway from Grosmont
to Pickering, with a station at Goathland, the famous Aidensfield of the Heartbeat
TV series and now a Harry Potter film location. More modern are the listening
posts at Fylingdales Moor, replacing the famous ‘golf balls’ of Cold War fame.
There
are over 2,300km of paths and tracks on the North York Moors making it a walker’s
and cyclist’s paradise. There are short strolls and half day walks and the superb Cleveland Way National Trail, which can be explored in circular sections. Sutton Bank offers challenging bike rides and is bidding to be part of the 2016 Tour de France. Wildlife
enthusiasts can hear the call of upland birds in the moorland peace. Whatever
the season the Moors are a place to get away from it all and experience
spectacular countryside.
Exploring is assisted by the Moorsbus, a National Park organised service which
travels to all corners of the Park.
Visit
the honey-coloured villages of the Moors, and perhaps have a meal at one of
the traditional country pubs. Or for more wooded country visit Dalby Forest,
west of Scarborough, and walk forest trails through beautiful woodland.
Within the North York Moors National Park are the high cliffs and rocky shores
of the North Yorkshire and Cleveland Heritage Coast with fishing villages, sandy
beaches, and a coastline rich in natural flora and fauna.
See the Yorkshire
Coast guide for more information.

At
the southern end of the Park is Helmsley, a very pretty market town huddled around a 12th century castle and Pickering, ‘The Gateway to The Moors’, dominated by its church spire and known for its ancient castle keep. Nearby, the traditional country towns of Hambledon and Ryedale bustle with local
life. They include Thirsk in ‘Herriot Country’, Northallerton in its
broad green vale and Malton, the gateway to Ryedale.