The North York Moors cover 1,400 miles of outstanding natural beauty consisting of, as the name suggests, moors, forests, valleys, coast, historic sites, castles, abbeys and hidden villages. In the summer, the heather moorland takes on a stunning purple hue as far as you can see. In winter, the moors are home to the darkest of skies.
Whatever the time of year this National Park’s scenery is truly amazing. With diverse wildlife around, you can seek out Roe deer, badgers, owls and birds both on the moors and in the forests. You might even spot dolphins, whales, seals and seabirds along the 26 miles of coastline.
Where to stay
Slingsby Camping and Caravan Site, Slingsby
Although not quite in the National Park, Slingsby Camping and Caravan Site is a great base for exploring the moors and York. A campsite popular with walkers and is clean and level.
Rosedale Abbey Caravan Park, Pickering
Situated in the North Yorkshire Moors, Rosedale Abbey Caravan Park is an excellent place to explore the moors and coastline. Facilities include electric hookups, a children’s adventure play area, dog walks, laundrette and a shop.
Sandfield House Farm Holiday Park, Whitby
Perched on top of a cliff, you’ll find Sandfield House Farm Holiday Park. Opposite a golf course and only a 30 minute walk or short bus ride to Whitby, this holiday park is in a great location for exploring the coastline. Facilities include a shop, children’s play field, tennis courts and a motorhome service area.
North York Moors Days out
Best for families: Dalby Forest
This Forest has plenty of outdoor activities for everyone in the family, with 13 walking trails for all abilities, including a Gruffalo trail; 6 cycling and 4 running trails; 2 play areas; Go Ape high wires; a stone maze; cafe and shop. There is also an activity centre offering activities like paintball, archery and tree climbing. The centre prides itself on enabling people with disabilities to access their activities, advocating that outdoor activities should be for everyone.
Best for history: Castle Howard
One of Britain’s finest historic houses and built over 300 years ago, Castle Howard sits in 1000 acres of parkland. You can explore lakeside terraces, woodlands, views, temples, statues, impressive fountains and walled gardens. A true spectacle, Castle Howard provided a stunning backdrop to the 1981 and 2008 film Brideshead revisited. The house took over 100 years to build and has remained in the Howard family to this day, although it was briefly a girls school in World war II.
With 4 cafes and a coffee shop it’s a great base for walking and cycling. It is also dog friendly and has its own garden centre.
Best for views: Sutton Bank National Park Centre
The gateway to the North York Moors, at Sutton Bank National Park Centre you’ll see ‘the finest views in England‘ over the dales of Mowbray to York. A great family day out, with marked walks and cycle ways for all abilities. One marked trail will lead you to the ‘Kilburn White Horse’, an impressive white horse carved into the hillside, with spectacular views along the way. Other facilities include a visitors centre, café, shop, bike hire and playground. There are wheelchair accessible paths to view points.
North York Moors Beaches
Best for families: Whitby
This two mile stretch of sandy beach has been awarded a Blue Flag Award, with beautiful beach huts and even donkey rides. When you’ve had enough of the beach, head to one of the fantastic fish and chip restaurants nearby. Whitby is a fascinating town, full of quirky narrow streets and a bustling harbour.
Best for dogs: Robin Hood’s Bay
Robin Hood’s Bay is a family and dog friendly sandy beach, full of rock pools to explore and fossils to discover. Just behind the beach, you’ll find a picturesque old fishing village, with narrow cobbled streets, vibrant cafes, small shops, pubs and plenty of places to explore. It is a naturally beautiful location, set against a backdrop of craggy cliffs and sweeping views around the bay.
Best for fossils: Sandsend Beach
Just north of Whitby you’ll find the sandy beach of Sandsend, next to a tiny village. The clean sandy beach has lots of small rivers and rock pools and is popular with families, fossil hunters and fishermen alike. Dogs are permitted between October and May, but not in high season. There is a shop and café in summer, with a designated swimming area, but no lifeguards.
See this
Whitby Abbey
Whitby Abbey is a 7th century Christian Monastery that became a Benedictine Abbey. Set on a headland and overlooking the town of Whitby, you can explore the impressive gothic ruins and take in the stunning views of the abbey that inspired Bram Stoker’s Dracula.
Falling Foss Waterfall
Venture the two mile circular woodland trail to Falling Foss and you’ll find not only a 30ft mesmerising waterfall, but also an idyllic tearoom. After a rest, you’ll return along babbling May Breck, a lovely shady walk with lots of places to paddle and a bridge to play pooh sticks on. It doesn’t get much more British than that.
Do this
Captain Cook Experience
Climb aboard the Bark Endeavour, an authentic replica, built by Whitby craftsmen, of HMS Endeavour; the ship sailed by Captain James Cook in 1768. Take a trip around Whitby harbour and along the coastline to Sandsend, sit back and enjoy the trip while listening to traditional Whitby sea shanties and tales of life aboard the ship.
Stargazing
With vast unpolluted skies and a drier climate, the North York Moors are the perfect place for stargazing. See if you can spot the Milky way and, if you’re lucky, you may be able to catch a glimpse of the North Lights that are often seen from the coast. Wrap up warm and don’t forget your binoculars!
Eat this
Fish and chips
A trip to Whitby is not complete without traditional fish and chips. Trenchers restaurant was voted UK’s Best Fish and Chip Restaurant 2019. Their fish is always fresh and from wild sustainable sites, and their chips are made from maris piper potatoes.
Ice cream from Beacon Farm
This farm is all about traditional homemade dairy ice cream, camping out under the stars and nice cuppa’ tea. Who could ask for more? Made from their homemade recipe and their own dairy cows on the farm, you’ll find their ice cream in all the traditional flavours of vanilla, strawberry and rum & raisin alongside salted caramel, bubblegum, liquorice and blackcurrant. They even make sorbets too! With their own ice cream parlour, tea rooms, adventure playground and family campsite, you could forget about the rest of this blog and spend your whole holiday eating ice cream here (we might just join you too).
Drink this
Cider
For 200 years, cider has been made at Ampleforth Abbey. Made from a mix of dessert and culinary apples pressed at their own cider mill, it is then fermented and matured for 8 months. Visit the abbey for a tour in the summer months or see the orchard in full blossom in spring.
Grab a flask of something warm
Head out into the night with a flask of something hot, maybe cider from the abbey, lie back and count the stars. Or venture onto the beaches anytime of year for fossil hunting and rock pooling, then warm up with a hot chocolate, add some whipped cream and marshmallows and sit to watch the waves crashing onto the beach.
Sign up for our Staycation Inspiration FREE magazine
Get your free magazine on the link below. Delivered straight to your inbox at no cost. Get a printed copy for just £4.99.
Get your free Staycation Inspiration Magazine HERE >>>
Hiring a motorhome for your next holiday?
Check your dates or find out more about how we can give you a great motorhome experience by enquiring through the website here.
+44 (0)117 290 9000
team@motorhomeholidaycompany.com
A370, Hewish, Bristol, BS24 6RT
The Motorhome Holiday Company; your (North York Moors) adventure starts here
