North York Moors
National Park
Any visit to the North York Moors is packed full of lots to do and see. Between the rugged Yorkshire coast and the tranquil Vale of York you’ll discover a fascinating land of bleak moors and colourful villages, friendly folk and ancient trails. Away-from-it-all hikes, an exciting amusement park, historic harbours, magnificent stately homes, see the animals at the zoo and, chuff-chuffing through the heart of it all, a nostalgia trip on a preserved steam railway. All this and more for you to discover …
The Moors Visitor Centre, on the banks of the River Esk near to Danby in the north of the park, has 13 acres of parkland to explore. You’ll find attractions, exhibits, trails, family activities, book stores, tea rooms, and plenty of picnic areas to spend your day. This is a great location for a fun family outing.
If you like to stretch your legs, how about walking the Cleveland Way – or maybe just a part of it? This long distance footpath extends 110 miles, with portions of it running along the coastline of the North York Moors.
You’ll find the Dalby Forest and Visitor Centre north of Pickering off of the Whitby Road. Enjoy a 9 mile drive through amazing scenery – hills, valleys, waterfalls, streams, and lakes. This drive has plenty of places for you to stop and enjoy what you see, snap some great photos and enjoy your lunch. Details of marked trails to enjoy on foot or bicycle can be found at the visitor centre.
Looking for wild adventures? Then don’t miss a visit to Flamingoland. This is one of the world’s best amusement parks, offering thrilling rides for people of all ages to enjoy. The wonderful zoo is home to more than a thousand species of animals and plant life. I don’t know which I enjoyed most! Flamingoland is theme park, zoo and holiday park all in one location!
North Yorkshire Moors Railway
Enjoy a relaxing and beautiful train ride on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway. This adventure takes you on an eighteen mile ride through the green countryside. Your ride will carry you through the heart of the North York Moors National Park. Your train of beautifully restored carriages is likely to be pulled by one of the original steam locomotives that are part of the living museum here. There’s lots more here to read and learn about the North Yorkshire Moors Railway.
Forever linked with the North Yorkshire Moors Railway is the busy town of Pickering. With a medieval castle that has hosted kings, a thriving market and museums there is something for everyone.
Grosmont – Railway and Ironstone Mining Heritage – Deep in the heart of the North York Moors National Park, Grosmont is once again thrust into the limelight by the popular presence of the North Yorkshire Moors Railway …
You’ll be amazed with the architecture of many of the attractions in and around the North York Moors – not least with Castle Howard . This beautiful ancestral home sits between two lakes on 10,000 acres of lush land and has been the home of the Howard family for more than three hundred years. You are welcome to explore the castle on your own or as part of a guided tour. The various materials and exquisite treasures in the castle give you a wonderful insight into the history of the area and its inhabitants. The castle also features magnificent gardens, spacious parks, restaurants, and a play area for the children to enjoy.
Rievaulx Abbey was built in the 13th Century by Cistercian monks as a home and place of worship as Christianity was being reformed. The Abbey remains a very beautiful and romantic attraction despite – or maybe in spite of the terrible damage it suffered at the hands of Henry VIII’s dissolution of the monasteries in 1539.
Eden Camp is jam-packed with more historical information of the area – in this case relating to World War II. This was the former location of a prisoner of war camp. Now it’s a very popular and informative museum with lots of interactive displays that really help you feel the atmosphere as it must have been through those bleak years.
With the beautiful scenery and serenity of the outdoors, the North York Moors National Park offers some of the prettiest sights in Yorkshire. There is a great chance of seeing wild birds and mammals indigenous to Yorkshire as well as more exotic creatures from around the world in the zoo at Flamingoland.
So why not make a visit to the North York Moors your next weekend away, short break or longer holiday. There are loads of great places to stay from quaint bed and breakfasts on the moors themselves to a range of self catering accommodation in Yorkshire around the moors and along the beautiful Yorkshire coastline.
