National park · United Kingdom
North York Moors National Park
Entry is free: drive the A169 Pickering–Whitby road and walk a signed trailhead, or ride the Moorsbus on a summer weekend; come May–June or September, and avoid summer Saturdays when the A169 and Sutton Bank queue.
- Source checked
- A source and a date are on record: we read it from an official or published page. Not yet confirmed on the ground.
- Field checked
- Someone checked it on the ground, with the date shown.
- Plan calculated
- Worked out by Voykit from its own data (times, distances, budgets). A calculation, not a measurement.
Unknown times stay unknown. How we verify
Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
1,436 km² (554 sq mi)554 sq mi (1,436 km²)
approximate
Established
1952
Best months
May–Jun, Sep
UNESCO
None
Rules in force · 10Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window…
- Europe ↗Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window, counted across all 29 Schengen states together — not per country; the Entry/Exit System now logs each crossing, so an overstay is detected automatically.
- Europe ↗On the first Schengen entry since EES began, non-EU travellers give four fingerprints and a face photo at the border instead of a passport stamp; there is nothing to apply for or pay in advance.
- Britain and Ireland ↗Neither the UK nor Ireland is part of Schengen: days spent here do not count towards the 90/180-day Schengen limit, and a Schengen visa does not admit you to either country.
- Britain and Ireland ↗The island of Ireland runs on two currencies: euro in the Republic, pound sterling in Northern Ireland and Great Britain. Carry a card that pays in both without fees.
- Britain and Ireland ↗Both islands drive on the left. Speed limits are in miles per hour in the UK (including Northern Ireland) and in kilometres per hour in the Republic of Ireland.
- United Kingdom ↗Most visitors who do not need a UK visa now need an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before travelling; this includes EU nationals. Irish citizens are exempt. Check the UK government site for your passport.
- United Kingdom ↗The UK is outside the EU and the Schengen area; a Schengen visa is not valid for the UK.
- United Kingdom ↗Driving is on the left; London has congestion and emissions charges for most vehicles, so do not drive in the city.
- North Yorkshire ↗A car is needed for the Dales, the North York Moors trailheads and most out-of-town abbeys; towns are walkable.
- North Yorkshire ↗Hill weather turns fast; carry a waterproof even on a short walk.
At a glance
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Area
- 1,436 km² (554 sq mi)554 sq mi (1,436 km²)
- About 1,436 km² (554 sq mi) of moorland, dales, woodland and coast; the boundary is fixed, the figure is rounded (check).
- Established
- 1952
- Best months
- May–Jun, Sep
- Permits
- For some areas
The North York Moors are a sandstone plateau of heather, bog and deep-cut dales in North Yorkshire, protected as a national park since 1952. There is no gate and no ticket: you pay for parking, the Moorsbus or the steam railway, not for the moor. The classic day is a ridge or dale walk from a signed trailhead, with Whitby, Robin Hood's Bay and the North Yorkshire Moors Railway on the eastern edge.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- Special national site · 1952Designated a national park in 1952 under the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949.
Size and age
1,436 km² (554 sq mi)554 sq mi (1,436 km²) · national park since 1952
About 1,436 km² (554 sq mi) of moorland, dales, woodland and coast; the boundary is fixed, the figure is rounded (check).
Why go
- Open access on foot across most of the moor, with no entry fee and no booking.
- Heather in flower from late July into September turns the plateau purple.
- The Cleveland Way and the Lyke Wake Walk cross the park; the coast path ends at Filey.
- Steam trains on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway link Pickering, Grosmont and Whitby.
When to go
- JanAvoid
- FebCaution
- MarGo
- AprGo
- MayBest
- JunBest
- JulGo
- AugCaution
- SepBest
- OctGo
- NovCaution
- DecAvoid
- JanShort days, ice on high roads; some moorland closed for shooting
- FebCold and wet; snow can block Sutton Bank
- MarQuiet; mud on the dales paths
- AprFarndale daffodils early in the month
- MayLong days, dry tracks, Moorsbus running
- JunWarm and green; midges low
- JulHeather starting; busy at weekends
- AugHeather peak but school holidays and shooting from 12 Aug
- SepHeather still out, crowds gone
- OctClear light; early dusk
- NovWet and grey; many services stop
- DecShooting season to 10 Dec; ice and short days
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Red grouseAll year · Heard more than seen; shooting season 12 Aug–10 Dec closes some moorland. | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Heather in flowerJul–Sep · Purple carpet on the plateau; peak usually mid-August. | no | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no |
| Merlin, curlew, lapwing and golden ploverApr–Jun · Breeding birds on the open moor; keep dogs close and on leads in spring. | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | no | no |
| Wild daffodils in FarndaleApr · Early April is the usual window; the valley gets crowded then. | no | no | no | yes | no | no | no | no | no | no | no | no |
| AddersApr–Sep · Sun themselves on warm paths; give them room and do not handle them. | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
Show 3 sectionsHideHow to get there, Zones and sectors, Sketch map
How to get there
From York
Train to Malton or Thirsk, then Coastliner bus towards Pickering or Scarborough.
1–1.5 h
Open the page →
From London
Train from King's Cross to York, then change; about 3 h to York plus the onward leg.
4–5 h
Open the page →
From Leeds
Coastliner 843 via Tadcaster, York and Malton to Pickering and Scarborough.
2–2.5 h
From Whitby
A169 over the moor to Pickering, or the Esk Valley train to Grosmont.
45 min–1 h
Open the page →
From Middlesbrough
Bus along the coast via Redcar and Saltburn, or inland via Guisborough.
1.5–2 h
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Central plateau | Heather, bog and the high point at Round Hill on Urra Moor (454 m). | Open access on foot; some tracts closed 12 Aug–10 Dec for grouse shooting. |
| Western scarp and Hambleton Hills | Sutton Bank, Rievaulx Abbey and the edge above the Vale of York. | Open; Sutton Bank road is closed to caravans and heavy vehicles. |
| Esk Valley and north flank | Wooded valley, village halts and the Esk Valley railway to Grosmont. | Open; trains and buses serve the valley. |
| Dalby Forest and southern woods | Managed forest with waymarked walking and mountain bike trails. | Open; some trails and the bike centre charge (check). |
| Heritage coast | Whitby, Robin Hood's Bay and the cliffs south towards Scarborough and Filey. | Open; the Cleveland Way runs the clifftops. |
Sketch map
- 1Pickering · Town≈54.246, -0.777Southern gateway and steam railway terminus.Map ↗
- 2Sutton Bank · Viewpoint≈54.238, -1.213Western scarp edge above the Vale of York.Map ↗
- 3Round Hill, Urra Moor · Summit≈54.410, -1.120High point of the park at 454 m; approximate.Map ↗
- 4Dalby Forest · Trail≈54.270, -0.670Waymarked walking and bike trails; approximate.Map ↗
- 5Grosmont · Ranger station≈54.435, -0.725Steam railway junction with the Esk Valley line.Map ↗
- 6Whitby · Town≈54.486, -0.613Coastal base at the eastern edge.Map ↗
- 7Robin Hood's Bay · Village≈54.431, -0.535Cliffside village on the Cleveland Way.Map ↗
Take the points offline
7 points as a GPX waypoint file, plus a plain-text list of coordinates. Save it while you have signal: maps apps show the points without a connection.
Approximate positions across the park for orientation only; the boundary is irregular.
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Show Top experiencesHide
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Show 8 sectionsHideEntry fees and permits, Park rules, Where to stay, Safety, Accessibility, Visiting lightly, Questions people ask, Related
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park entry | Free | person | No gate and no ticket for the national park itself. |
| Car park, signed moorland trailheads | GBP 0–6 (≈ US$0–8) | car | 2026 estimate; many are free, popular ones charge by the day or by the hour (check). |
| Moorsbus single fare | GBP 2–5 (≈ US$3–7) | person | 2026 estimate; weekend routes May–September, exact fare by distance (check). |
| North Yorkshire Moors Railway, Pickering–Whitby return | GBP 30–45 (≈ US$40–60) | person | 2026 estimate; book ahead for steam days (check). |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Park entry no permit
Car parking permit or guide
North Yorkshire Moors Railway permit or guide
Group or commercial walking permit or guide
What would our group pay?
People
Nights or days
- £2–5≈ US$3–7
- £30–45≈ US$40–60
Tick the fees that apply to your trip to see a total.
A guide, not a quote: the ranges are estimates (checked 2026-09) and each fee may have rules on who pays it. Confirm on North York Moors National Park Authority before you go.
Park rules
- Wild camping
- Not permitted anywhere in the park; use the camping and caravan sites around the moors.
- Open access land
- Walk freely on mapped open access land, but keep to paths across farmland and close gates.
- Dogs
- Keep dogs on a lead on open access land from 1 March to 31 July, and near livestock at any time.
- Fires and stoves
- No open fires or disposable barbecues on the moor; heather and peat burn easily.
- Grouse shooting closures
- Some tracts of moorland are closed to the public from 12 Aug to 10 Dec; follow local signs.
- Sutton Bank
- Caravans and heavy vehicles must not attempt the A170 climb at Sutton Bank.
Where to stay
Near the park
Pickering
Market town at the southern edge; steam railway terminus and the best bus links.
Near the park
Helmsley
Small town with a brewery taphouse; good base for the western scarp and Rievaulx.
Near the park
Whitby
Coastal town with seaside B&Bs and small hotels; abbey and harbour.
Near the park
Robin Hood's Bay
Village of narrow lanes below the cliffs; limited parking, book ahead.
Near the park
Moorland campsites and caravan parks
About 18 sites around the moors; the coast south of Scarborough is mostly caravan parks.
Safety
Weather turning on the open moor medium
Bog and peat on the high plateau medium
Ice and snow on high roads medium
Summer weekend traffic low
Theft from parked cars low
How much daylight do you have?
Time out
Finding the local time zone…
Times are local to the spot (zone loading). The half-hour margin is our rule of thumb, not an official figure; light fades earlier in forest or under cloud. Carry a headlamp on any route that could run late.
Accessibility
- Sutton Bank, the White Horse car park and the Dalby Forest visitor area have level paths and accessible parking.
- The North Yorkshire Moors Railway runs accessible carriages; check when booking.
- The Cleveland Way and most moorland tracks are rough, steep or boggy and are not suitable for wheelchairs or pushchairs.
Visiting lightly
- Use the Moorsbus or the Esk Valley train instead of adding a car to the summer weekend queues.
- Keep to the path on eroded peat; heather and bog take decades to recover.
- Buy fuel, food and lunch in Pickering, Helmsley or the villages so the moor's towns benefit.
- Take all litter home; the park has no bins on the open moor.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter North York Moors?
Nothing. There is no gate or ticket for the national park. You pay only for car parking where a charge applies (roughly £0–6 per car, 2026 estimate), Moorsbus fares, or the North Yorkshire Moors Railway.
What are the best hikes in North York Moors?
Roseberry Topping for a short steep summit, the Farndale daffodil walk in early April, a stage of the Cleveland Way along the scarp or the coast path, and the Lyke Wake Walk for a full crossing. All are free; the moorland tracks are rough and boggy in places.
When is the best time to visit North York Moors?
May, June and September: long days, drier tracks and fewer people. Late July to early September adds the heather in flower. Avoid summer Saturdays on the A169 and Sutton Bank, and expect some moorland to be closed from 12 August to 10 December for grouse shooting.
Do I need a car to visit North York Moors?
It helps, but not always. The Moorsbus runs weekend routes from May to September, the Esk Valley train serves the northern villages, and Coastliner buses link York, Malton, Pickering and Scarborough. Inside the park, buses are sparse on weekdays.
Can I wild camp in North York Moors?
No. Wild camping is not permitted in the park. Use one of the roughly 18 camping and caravan sites around the moors, or a B&B in Pickering, Helmsley or Whitby.
Is North York Moors the same as the Yorkshire Dales?
No. They are separate national parks. The Dales lie west of the Vale of York and have limestone karst scenery; the Moors are a sandstone plateau with heather, bog and a coastline.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go