Explore the sweeping heather moorlands, deep wooded valleys and dramatic cliff coastlines of the North York Moors National Park, one of England’s largest expanses of open moorland and a classic walking destination in North Yorkshire. 

From remote high moors and sheltered dales to quaint villages and historic coastal towns such as Whitby and Robin Hood’s Bay, this diverse landscape offers something for walkers of all interests.

This comprehensive guidebook presents 50 varied walks throughout the National Park, ranging from short, accessible low-level routes to longer, more challenging moorland treks, including a staged presentation of the classic Lyke Wake Walk (65km). 

• 50 walks across the North York Moors are described, covering the Tabular Hills, Hambleton Hills, Cleveland Hills, Northern Moors, High Moors, Eastern Moors and the Cleveland Coast, offering true variety from lowland paths to exposed high moorland scenery
• Routes range from 7–22 km (4–14 miles), with most routes taking between 2 and 7 hours, plus the Lyke Wake Walk, presented in four stages for a multi-day challenge
• 1:50,000 Ordnance Survey maps for every route, detailed descriptions and downloadable GPX files to help with navigation across the remote moorland and coastal paths of North Yorkshire
• Highlights include heather-clad moorland summits, dramatic sea cliffs at Whitby and Ravenscar, hidden dales such as Forge Valley, historic villages like Hutton-le-Hole, and the sense of space over the high moors
• Practical information on terrain, public transport, refreshments, accommodation and local facilities is included, helping you plan enjoyable days out from towns like Pickering and Scarborough

From carpets of purple heather in summer to snow-touched moorland in winter, the North York Moors reveal their own seasonal magic and a profound sense of wilderness. Whether you’re tackling classic moorland walks, exploring hidden valleys or following coastal paths with sea views, The North York Moors guidebook equips you with everything you need for unforgettable walking adventures in this rich and varied National Park.

The North York Moors – Quick Facts

Guidebook name: The North York Moors – 2nd Edition
Location: North York Moors National Park, North Yorkshire, England
Number of walks: 50 routes – 35 day walks and 15 longer trails (including Lyke Wake Walk in four stages)
Distance: Day walks 7–22 km (4–14 miles); longer routes 15–65 km (9–40 miles)
Typical duration: 2–7 hours for day walks; multi-day options for extended walks
Terrain: Heather moorland, wooded dales, coastal cliffs, quiet lanes, and historic villages
Difficulty: Easy to strenuous; suitable for beginners, families, and experienced walkers
Highlights: Lyke Wake Walk, Tabular Hills, Hambleton Hills, Cleveland Hills, Whitby cliffs, Robin Hood’s Bay, Forge Valley, Hutton-le-Hole, Pickering, Scarborough
Navigation: 1:50,000 Ordnance Survey maps and downloadable GPX files
Facilities: Practical info on transport, parking, refreshments, accommodation, and local amenities for each route
Best season: Year-round walking, with spring and autumn favoured for quieter walking and good weather

Author Top Tip

“The Moorsbus is a network of special low-cost bus services, often tying in with other bus and rail services to link some of the more popular little towns and villages with some of the more remote parts of the national park. Timetables and places served tend to change each year, but as a general rule, services operate on summer Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holiday Mondays.”

- Paddy Dillon, author of The North York Moors

Map key

Overview map

Introduction

Brief history of the moors

North York Moors industries

Getting to the North York Moors

Getting around the North York Moors

Accommodation

Food and drink

When to walk

Maps of the routes

National park visitor centres

Tourist information centres

Emergency services

Using this guide

The Tabular Hills

Walk 1 West Ayton, Hackness and the Forge Valley

Walk 2 Hackness, Broxa and Whisper Dales

Walk 3 Lockton, Stain Dale, Saltergate and Levisham Moor

Walk 4 Levisham and the Hole of Horcum

Walk 5 Levisham Station, Levisham and Newton-on-Rawcliffe

Walk 6 Hutton-le-Hole, Lastingham, Cropton and Appleton-le-Moors

Walk 7 Gillamoor, Boonhill Common and Fadmoor

Walk 8 Newgate Bank, Rievaulx Moor and Helmsley Bank

Walk 9 Helmsley, Beck Dale and Ash Dale

Walk 10 Hawnby Hill and Easterside Hill

The Hambleton Hills

Walk 11 Rievaulx Abbey and Old Byland

Walk 12 Byland Abbey, Mount Snever and Oldstead

Walk 13 Sutton Bank, Gormire Lake and the White Horse

Walk 14 Osmotherley, Thimbleby, Siltons and Black Hambleton

The Cleveland Hills

Walk 15 Osmotherley, Beacon Hill and High Lane

Walk 16 Chop Gate, Cringle Moor and Cock Howe

Walk 17 Chop Gate, Urra Moor, Hasty Bank and Cold Moor

Walk 18 Kildale, Ingleby Moor and Battersby Moor

Walk 19 Kildale, Leven Vale, Baysdale and Hograh Moor

The Northern Moors

Walk 20 Great Ayton, Easby Moor and Roseberry Topping

Walk 21 Guisborough, Gisborough Moor and Hutton Village

Walk 22 Danby, Siss Cross, Commondale and Castleton

Walk 23 Scaling Dam, Clitherbeck, Danby and Beacon Hill

The High Moors

Walk 24 Chop Gate, Cock Howe, Ryedale and Wetherhouse Moor

Walk 25 Chop Gate, Tripsdale, Bransdale and Bilsdale

Walk 26 Low Mill, Harland, Rudland Rigg and West Gill

Walk 27 Church Houses, Bloworth Crossing and Farndale Moor

Walk 28 Hutton-le-Hole, Ana Cross, Spaunton Moor and Lastingham

Walk 29 Rosedale Abbey, Hartoft, Lastingham and Ana Cross

Walk 30 Rosedale Ironstone Railway around Rosedale Head

Walk 31 Rosedale Ironstone Railway from Blakey to Battersby

Walk 32 Westerdale, Fat Betty, Westerdale Moor and Esklets

Walk 33 Danby, Castleton, Botton Village and Danby Rigg

Walk 34 Lealholm, Heads, Glaisdale Moor and Glaisdale Rigg

Walk 35 Glaisdale Rigg, Egton High Moor and Egton Bridge

The Eastern Moors

Walk 36 Goathland, Simon Howe, Wheeldale and Mallyan Spout

Walk 37 Rail Trail from Moorgates to Goathland and Grosmont

Walk 38 Goathland, Sleights Moor and Whinstone Ridge

Walk 39 Goathland, Eller Beck, Lilla Howe and Goathland Moor

Walk 40 Chapel Farm, Lilla Howe and Jugger Howe Beck

Walk 41 Sleights, Ugglebarnby, Falling Foss and Littlebeck

The Cleveland Coast

Walk 42 Runswick Bay, Hinderwell, Staithes and Port Mulgrave

Walk 43 Runswick Bay, Kettleness and Goldsborough

Walk 44 Whitby, Saltwick Bay, Robin Hood’s Bay and Hawsker

Walk 45 Robin Hood’s Bay, Boggle Hole and Ravenscar

Walk 46 Cloughton, Staintondale, Ravenscar and Hayburn Wyke

The Lyke Wake Walk

Walk 47 Osmotherley, Carlton Bank, Cringle Moor and Hasty Bank

Walk 48 Clay Bank, Urra Moor, Bloworth Crossing and Blakey

Walk 49 Rosedale Head, Hamer, Wheeldale Moor and Simon Howe

Walk 50 Eller Beck, Lilla Howe, Jugger Howe Moor and Ravenscar

Appendix A Route summary table

Appendix B Useful contacts

Seasons

Spring and autumn are quiet, with good weather. The heather moorlands turn purple in summer, and it can be busy. Winter weather is harsh, with the moorlands becoming soaked or covered in deep snow.

Centres

Staithes, Whitby, Robin Hood's Bay, Scarborough, Pickering, Helmsley, Hutton-le-Hole, Bilsdale, Osmotherley, Great Ayton, Guisborough, Eskdale and Goathland.

Difficulty

Varied walks from 4 to 13½ miles. Terrain includes exposed moorlands, sheltered valleys, woodlands, forests and cliff coasts. No special equipment is needed on the lower, easier walks, but walkers need to be prepared for bad weather on the higher, longer and more exposed moorland walks, where good navigation is also required.

Must See

High heather moorlands, verdant dales and cliff coastline. Bustling towns and pretty villages. Abbeys, castles, prehistoric remains, industrial archaeology and interesting museums. The Lyke Wake Walk, Cleveland Way and interesting old railway paths.

We do not yet have any updates available for this book

We are always grateful to readers for information about any discrepancies between a guidebook and the facts on the ground. If you would like to send some information to us then please use our contact form. They will be published here following review by the author(s).

Free Royal Mail 48 postage on UK orders. European postage is £3.50 per item. Worldwide postage is £5.50 per item. If you're not happy with your purchase for any reason, we'll give you a full refund.