North York Moors

Heather moorlands meet rugged coastline

The North York Moors National Park covers over 500 square miles in northern England. Rolling hills, heather-covered moorland and ancient woodlands stretch across the landscape. The area is home to rare wildlife such as red deer and curlews. Historic villages dot the region, with stone cottages and quiet lanes that reflect centuries of tradition. Visitors can walk along old paths or explore coastal cliffs where seabirds gather in large numbers. The moors provide a peaceful setting for hiking, cycling and discovering England’s natural heritage.

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National Park in United Kingdom

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$$$+	Very expensive, luxury

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Safety: 8.8

General Safety:	9
Health & medical:	8
Accessibility:	8
Tap water:	10

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5/5

English is the native language throughout the North York Moors. All locals, service providers, and information points communicate fluently in English, making it extremely easy for English-speaking tourists to navigate and interact.

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Last update: 12 Oct 2026

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North York Moors Summary

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‘Best for’ scores:
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Excellent for moorland hiking and scenic countryside. Walk heather-covered hills, cycle quiet country roads, explore historic villages and ride heritage steam trains.

Place score

8.1

Best at:

Natural sites

Spotless

Guided tours

Wildlife

Hiking

Personal score

Suited for

👶 9

Families

🧓 9

Seniors

🛡️ 9

Travel Beginners

❤️ 9

Couples

United Kingdom – Quick facts

Guide Etiquette Holidays Other

Power Grid:	230 V, 50 Hz Plug: Type G Type G: Read about power adapters
Currency:	Pound Sterling (GBP)
Cashless info:	Rating 5/5 Cashless payments are widely accepted in the UK, especially in cities. Contactless payments and mobile payment options are increasingly popular, with smaller businesses also accepting cards. Save with a travel credit card
eSIM providers:	Best value: Saily Flexibility: Airalo Read our in-depth comparison

Tipping:	Tipping is customary in the UK, with 10-15% in restaurants. Taxi drivers generally expect a 10% tip or rounding up. Small tips for hotel staff are appreciated.
Public drinking:	Public drinking is allowed in many parts of the UK, especially in parks, festivals, and licensed premises. However, it's banned on public transport or in certain public spaces.
Public smoking:	Smoking is prohibited indoors in all public spaces, including bars and restaurants. There are designated outdoor smoking areas.

Christmas (December)	Christmas is widely celebrated, expect crowded markets and higher accommodation prices.
Bank Holiday (August)	Busy periods, especially in cities and along coastal areas. Many businesses close.
New Year’s Day (January)	A major public holiday with celebrations and closures in some sectors.

Emergency contact:	Emergency Number: 999 or 112 (Police, Fire, Ambulance)
Taxi apps:	Uber, Bolt, Free Now, Ola
Other:	The UK is well-prepared for tourists, with excellent infrastructure. However, be aware of language barriers in remote areas.

Best times to travel

The best times to travel section shows how the months compare for a visit, so you can find the time of year that fits what you want to do.

Background colours of the months:
The colour shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the colour is shows the travel season: full colour means high season, soft colour means shoulder season and soft-striped means off season.

Weather symbols:
Each month has one symbol showing what the weather is typically like, such as hot and sunny, freezing or a rainy or snowy season. Use them to quickly spot months that match the weather you want, or to avoid the ones that don't.

Crowdedness:
The people icon shows how busy the place usually is. The more people, the more crowded it gets.

Additional notes:
The grey info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.

for North York Moors, United Kingdom

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Feb

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Mar

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Apr

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May

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Jun

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Jul

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Oct

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Nov

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Dec

High season:	May - Sep.
Shoulder season:	April, Oct.
Crowdedness:	5 (Moderate tourist numbers)

Tap on a month for more info Hover over a month for more info

Climate details

Heather blooms mid August to mid September, turning the moors purple

North Yorkshire Moors Railway runs mainly late March to October, plus festive services in December

Many coastal cafes, B&Bs and attractions close or cut hours November to March

Don't miss

🚂 Ride the historic steam train from Pickering to Whitby
🏰 Explore the ancient ruins of Rievaulx Abbey
🚶‍♂️ Walk the scenic Cleveland Way coastal trail
🏯 Discover the charming village and castle at Helmsley
🌊 Visit Robin Hood’s Bay and hunt for rock pool creatures

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Why travel to North York Moors?

North York Moors feel like stepping into a timeless world where nature and history intertwine perfectly. One day you can be hiking across vast expanses of heather moorland that bloom spectacularly purple in late summer and the next exploring charming fishing villages tucked into the coastline like Robin Hood's Bay with its smuggling history or Staithes with its artistic heritage. The park's 1,400+ miles of footpaths and bridleways offer endless opportunities to discover hidden valleys, ancient forests and dramatic coastal paths along the 26-mile heritage coastline. What makes this place special is its remarkable diversity packed into a relatively compact area. You can explore historic sites like the haunting ruins of Rievaulx Abbey or Whitby Abbey (which inspired Bram Stoker's Dracula), ride the nostalgic North Yorkshire Moors Railway through stunning scenery or simply enjoy the tranquility of England's largest expanse of heather moorland. The park is also an International Dark Sky Reserve, offering spectacular stargazing opportunities. Just be prepared for rapidly changing weather conditions – even in summer, a sunny morning can quickly turn into a misty, rainy afternoon, so layers and waterproofs are essential companions.

🏯Places worth seeing

1 Rievaulx Abbey
2 Whitby Abbey
3 Byland Abbey
4 Helmsley
5 Pickering
6 Goathland
7 Staithes
8 Robin Hood's Bay

🎡Places for activities

1 Goathland
2 Rosedale Abbey
3 Cleveland Way
4 Dalby Forest Drive
5 River Esk
6 Rievaulx Terrace
7 Cropton Forest

🏞️Natural landmarks

1 Falling Foss Waterfall
2 Mallyan Spout
3 Roseberry Topping
4 Sutton Bank
5 Hole of Horcum
6 Blakey Ridge
7 Farndale
8 Bridestones
9 Levisham Moor

🛍️Shopping

1 Market Place
2 Cattle Market
3 Market Place
4 Goathland Garage

🎈Events

Stargazing Festivals
North York Moors Walking Festival
Whitby Goth Weekend
Pickering War Weekend
Malton Food Festival
Farndale Daffodil Walk (Spring)
Rosedale Show
Whitby Regatta
Ryedale Show
Folk Festivals

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Open map view

Knowledge before you go

Wear sturdy boots for boggy moorland paths.
Ride North Yorkshire Moors Railway from Pickering for scenic steam train experience through heather moors.
Hike Cleveland Way National Trail for coastal cliffs, moorland views and historic villages like Goathland.
Visit late August when purple heather blankets 44,000 hectares creating England's most spectacular moorland display.

How to travel to North York Moors

The North York Moors is easily accessible from major cities in the UK. The nearest major airports are Leeds Bradford and Manchester, both within 2 hours' drive. York and Scarborough are the main railway stations near the park, with good connections to London and other major cities. From York, you can take trains to Malton or buses to various locations within the park. If driving, the A1(M), A19 and A64 provide good access routes to different parts of the national park.

Access summary

From Teesside International Airport (MME): Train via Middlesbrough towards park about 1.5–2 hours.
From York: Train or bus to Pickering/Whitby area roughly 1–1.5 hours.
From Manchester or Leeds: Train to York or Middlesbrough, then onward connections about 3 hours.

Check your route from anywhere

Where to stay in North York Moors

The North York Moors offers diverse accommodation options to suit all budgets and preferences. You'll find everything from charming country inns and B&Bs in picturesque villages to luxury hotels, self-catering cottages and glamping sites. The White Swan Inn in Pickering, Lark Cottage and Keldy Forest Cabins offer distinctive experiences. Coastal towns like Whitby and inland market towns like Helmsley provide more options, while camping and glamping are popular in summer. Book well ahead for peak season, especially for unique properties.

Hotel recommendations

*by rating and popularity. Commissions have no influence on the rankings.

We couldn't find any nearby hotels for now.

How to get around North York Moors

Getting around the North York Moors is most flexible with a car, allowing you to explore remote villages and viewpoints. However, the area has good public transport options too. The North Yorkshire Moors Railway offers a scenic way to travel between Pickering and Whitby, passing through beautiful landscapes and historic stations. Regular bus services connect major towns and villages, with the Moorsbus network operating during summer months specifically designed for visitors wanting to access walking routes and attractions.

Budget snapshot

Costs compared to home

We calculate the average costs when travelling to destinations and compare those with the living costs at your home. With this you can get an estimate of how expensive or cheap the destination is for you.

To customise this, you can set up which location and price level are used for the calculations in your account settings.

+12 %

Daily expenses in the region are around 12% higher than the average across United States. That means you'll spend more on meals and getting around.

Exchange rate trend

The exchange rate price factor shows how expensive or cheap a currency currently is compared to its historical average. It's a quick way to see if a country is currently more or less affordable due to exchange rate changes.

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This place also uses Pound Sterling, so no money exchange necessary.

Travel costs (Data for Middlesbrough, United Kingdom - 30 km away)

To help you plan your trip, we provide estimated daily costs per person (when travelling as a pair) for different travel styles. These numbers give you an idea of what you might spend each day at this destination, including accommodation, food, transport and activities.

Additionally, we also provide average hotel costs for different travel styles to give you an estimate for the accommodation only.

Please note that these are only estimates. The real costs depend on booking times, season and other factors.

Daily cost summary

Travel style categories explained:

Backpacker:
Staying in hostels or budget hotels, cooking your own meals or eating cheap and choosing low-cost activities.

Mid-range:
Staying in mid-range hotels, eating at a mix of restaurants and casual spots and enjoying a variety of activities.

Luxury:
Staying in luxury hotels, dining out at high-end restaurants and enjoying premium experiences without worrying about the price.

	Backpacker	Mid-range	Luxury
💵 Total costs per day, including accommodation	£64	£145	£403
🏨 Accommodation per night, per person	£23	£53	£135
🍝 Food per day	£29	£79	£225
🚕 Transportation per day	£12	£13	£43

Food & Drink

🍽️ Restaurant Dinner, per person	£35
🍛 Lunch Set, per person	£17
🍟 Fast food combo	£8.50
🍝 Preparing your own food, per day	£10
☕ Cappuccino	£3.40
🍺 Beer in a restaurant, 0.5 l	£4.70

Transportation

🚌 Public transport ticket	£3.10
🚕 Taxi Ride, 10 km / 6 mi	£24
⛽ Petrol, 1 l	£1.40

Other

🎞️ Cinema ticket	£9.50
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's consult	£85
🤧 Cold medication	£4.80
💇 Basic haircut	£9

Safety information overview

General safety

The North York Moors is generally very safe with low crime rates. The main concerns are natural hazards like sudden weather changes, especially on the moors. Take care on coastal paths where cliff edges can be dangerous, particularly in windy conditions.

Health & Medical

Medical facilities are available in larger towns like Whitby and Pickering, with major hospitals in York and Middlesbrough. Response times can be longer in remote areas. Be prepared for limited mobile coverage in some valleys and moorland areas.

Accessibility

Accessibility varies throughout the park. Visitor centers and some trails are accessible, but many natural attractions involve uneven terrain. The Moors Centre at Danby and Sutton Bank offer accessible paths and facilities. Some heritage sites have limited access due to their historic nature.

Tap water

Tap water throughout the North York Moors is safe to drink and of high quality. Public water fountains are limited, so carry a refillable bottle, especially when hiking. Most pubs and cafes will happily refill water bottles upon request.