Discover the beautiful North York Moors, England: tips and attractions
Do you love nature, and cosy pubs, walking on the beach or through the woods, sweet villages and rugged cliffs? Fishing villages, purple flowering heather in the summer and dark vistas in the winter? Yes? Then the North York Moors in Yorkshire, England, might just be your new holiday destination.
The North York Moors in England are beautiful, amazing and still relatively undiscovered. The villages and towns in and around the national park are the perfect places to escape the crowds and to fully enjoy the English countryside and embrace the outdoors.
They also have very cozy and beautiful coastal towns!
If you're heading to the North York Moors in the autumn, you're in luck! The end of October is always the time for Whitby's biennial Whitby Goth WeekendAn iconic alternative music festival in the historic seaside town of Whitby. Thousands flock to the live music, markets, and impressive Gothic fashion. All against the backdrop of a town famous for its association with Bram Stoker's "Dracula."
Whitby Log Cabin, Whitby – here you’ll find three different cabins, and it’s hard to choose! Valley View (near a small waterfall) and The Hideaway are a bit more luxurious, and Treetops has more of a glamping vibe. All three have plenty of privacy and are in the middle of nature. Back to basics, but a lot less basic.
White Horse & GriffinWhitby – one of the oldest and most iconic buildings on the east side of the city. The rooms are bright and reasonably modern, but the restaurant transports you back to the days of smuggling, when the open fire was the only way to warm up after a day at sea. Cozy, authentic, and right in the heart of Whitby.
The Fox and the HoundsAinthorpe – The Fox & Hounds is a traditional inn in the heart of the North York Moors National Park. It has ten bedrooms and, importantly, a superb pub with a log fire, low seating, and carpet throughout. The food is also excellent (the vegetarian lasagna and the Ploughman's lunch, bam!), plus they have a very spacious beer garden with a guaranteed sunny spot (when it shines).
Landal Woodland Lakes is a holiday park in a fantastic location. It's less than a fifteen-minute drive from Thirsk, and about a 45-minute drive from Harrogate, Knaresborough, and York. Each is a quintessentially English town, offering plenty of pubs, restaurants, museums, and other attractions. Plus, you're right in the heart of the North York Moors, which is another key factor when it comes to fantastic walks and views.
The Woodland Lakes park itself is well-organized and offers lodges for two, four, six, or eight people. This allows you to travel with whoever you like, making it ideal if you'd like to travel with a group or family but don't want to be constantly surrounded by each other. Some lodges have hot tubs, and you can stay by the water and choose to stay in a detached lodge or a semi-detached one. Besides greenery and nature, the park also features an indoor pool, a spa, the Olive Tree Café, and various activities (such as archery and zorbing). Plenty of entertainment for the kids, but also plenty for adults.
Abbey Inn, Byland – fantastic place, with next level food. More for foodies than your standard pub grub. They have a really nice beer garden and overlook the ruins of Byland Abbey.
The Homestead, Goathland – this one is definitely not to be missed! A fine dining restaurant in a picturesque location in Goathland. It can hardly be more English. Good to know: they also have a holiday home on site.
The Waterside, Ruswarp – a family-run restaurant on the River Esk, and an unexpected (but fantastic!) mix of hip Ibiza vibes and English countryside. No way would you expect this in Ruswarp. There is a modern menu with European influences, kids are more than welcome, but is also a adults only sundeck, a brilliant idea. In the evening there are expertly mixed cocktails, and you can (and want to!) stay all night.
Pizza West, Whitby – this hip place wouldn’t have been out of place in Amsterdam (and that’s what makes it so nice that it’s not in Amsterdam, but in quaint Whitby). Colourful interior, good pizzas and in the summer you really have to order the peaches with burrata and chilli oil.
The North York Moors are so beautiful, and so diverse, in all sorts of ways. From greasy fish & chips from the locals to Michelin star food in the most beautiful country pubs. From windy coastal walks to challenging hikes through the woods and across the fields. The locals are very friendly, but will never let you take the cheese off their bread.
Let's start with a spicy disclaimer: we have never found a pub in the North York Moors where we haven't had a great time. But then this article would never end. So here are some real, real favourites.
Cod & Lobster, Staithes – overlooking the harbour, rocks, cliffs and sea, the pub itself is not the prettiest, but the people and the view make up for it. The signature dish, Cod & Lobster, is not necessarily budget, but so, so good.
Birch Hall Inn, Beck Hole – the smallest pub we’ve ever been to, and one we always return to when we’re in the North York Moors. Expect to be crammed together, pints you have to take from a dispensing hatch, no card, but a log fire, the cosiest afternoon and the friendliest people packed like sardines in a tin.
The Lion Inn, Blakely Ridge – at the highest point in the North York Moors National Park, and therefore a great view over the valleys of Rosedale and Farndale. It is cosy, the fire crackles in the old stone fireplace and there are several walks nearby. Perfect for a bit of fun all day and to strengthen yourself later with proper pub grub and a pint.
The Flower Belt, Helmsley – a boho-vibe flower picking garden on the edge of the village. They are open from 10am – 00pm during the picking season, but keep an eye out for instagram Keep an eye out for the most up to date times. After picking flowers you can enjoy delicious pizza on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, which is great!
Whitby Well Being, various locations – the folks behind Whitby Well Being do all sorts of fun things, always with a bit of self-care as a focus. Our favorites are the pop-up saunas on the beach: steam in the cabin and cool off in the sea. Just keep an eye on the website to see where they are and when!
North Yorkshire Moors Railway – this one can’t be missed of course. You start and end at Goathland Station aka Hogsmead for the HP fans. In an old-fashioned steam train you chug through the North York Moors, and boy, is that beautiful. If you’re a bit smart, you can also book a lunch or afternoon tea.
Danby Dale, Blakey and Westerdale (Esk Valley Walk 1) – the toughest moorland walk in the area, so the weather has to be good, and you have to like a bit of a challenge. It is a 26,5 kilometre long route through the western dales and high moors, along the source of the River Esk. You start and finish in Castleton. Fortunately, there are plenty of places to fortify yourself along the way.
May Beck and Falling Foss – if ever there was a magical woodland walk, this is it! Just over 3km, and perfect for family picnics and a visit to Falling Foss Tea Garden.
Whitby Wander – very nice walk, with something different every time. For example, you walk through the historic Whitby with all its hustle & bustle and continue on the Cleveland Way/King Charles III England Coast Path to get away from the crowds and enjoy the beautiful coastal scenery.
Are you up for a (partial) walking holiday, but don't really fancy the lugging and carrying part? We understand, and you don't have to. There are several companies and organisations in the North York Moors that can organise entire walking holidays for you, but who will also just take your luggage from one place to another. Luggage transport North York Moors
Cleveland Way National Trail – if you do it all, you’ll walk for nine days, from the market town of Helmsley (on the edge of the North York Moors) to the coast at Filey. The 176km route winds through dramatic coastline and moorland, with great views of castles, ruined abbeys, ancient stone crosses and fishing villages tucked into little bays. It really does have it all, but that’s what you want when you’re strapping on your walking boots for nine days straight. Of course, you can also walk parts of it.
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Falling Foss Tea Garden The beautiful Falling Foss Tea Garden is just a few miles from Whitby and definitely worth a visit. The cakes and scones are baked fresh daily, and there are sandwiches, salads, and soups, as well as a variety of (alcoholic) drinks. There's a child-friendly woodland path you can follow to the bridge to see the babbling May Beck from above. Do note the opening hours, as they vary widely (and they're closed in winter anyway).
Graze on the Green– here they serve homemade cakes, locally roasted coffee and light lunches in the heart of the North York Moors National Park, at Rosedale Abbey. There are several walks that pass through here, how convenient. When the weather gets colder, there’s a log fire inside, but in the summer the tea garden is the place to curl up.
Whitby Brewery – we have yet to come across the brewery with a better view and path to it: from the picnic benches in the beer garden At Whitby Brewery you look out onto the ruins of Whitby Abbey, and that remains – no matter how many times you visit – an impressive sight. If you are tall (or stand on a bench), you can also see the coast and the cliffs. The core range of ales is always good (Jet Black, always the Jet Black) and the pizzas are cracking. They also regularly host events and live music, so definitely keep an eye out for that if you are in the area. If you are in Whitby, walk up the 199 steps, through the macabre St. Mary's Church graveyard, past Whitby Abbey and you will have earned a pint.
Helmsley Brewing Company – according to them, the beer garden here is the sunniest in the village, and we can certainly believe that. Especially if you have one of their ales or bitters in your hand. In the shop you can take some beer home with you, and if you really want to know everything about the Helmsley Brewery, you can book tours in the summer (May to August). We always order (as a first pint, it never stays at just one) the Yorkshire legend, a very nice and accessible bitter. Find more fun things to do in Helmsley here.
The North York Moors have virtually no air pollution and the nights here (on cloudless days) are more than fantastic.
sutton bank – the skies here are among the darkest in England. On clear nights you can see all the stars, various planets and with a bit of luck meteor showers. There are also information boards; then even as a layman you know where to look.
Dalby Forest – a combination of dense forest and open skies. The Forestry Commission often holds stargazing events here, with telescopes and expert guidance if you want to know exactly what you’re looking at.
In addition to these spots, the North York Moors are dotted with countless other locations that are perfect for stargazing! Especially if it gets dark earlier, you can easily walk a bit onto the Moors. Bring a torch and a thermos of tea, and the night picnic is on.
Twice a year it is Whitby Goth Weekend organized: three days full of Goth, alternative subcultures, and other bohemian subcultures. Expect the most beautiful, intense and most peculiar outfits, the Bizaare Bazaar, and a Whitby like you don't normally see. As if you've just walked into a Dracula book.. Participating and dressing up is allowed, but is not a must, as long as you're a bit sociable.
De Bizarre Bazaar occupies two large sites: the Leisure Centre and the Brunswick Centre. Over a hundred traders adorn the halls with an array of eclectic oddities, captivating curios, glittering crystals, unique and bespoke velvet and lace garments, handmade goods, and retro collectables. Not for the faint hearted maybe, so luckily they also serve beer, wine and something stronger!
The first Whitby Goth Weekend Gathering was in 1994 at the Elsinore Pub.
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