The North York Moors, the Yorkshire Dales, the coast at Whitby and Scarborough, and spa-town Harrogate
North Yorkshire holds two national parks: the North York Moors, with the largest expanse of heather moorland in the United Kingdom, and the Yorkshire Dales, a country of limestone scars, waterfalls, drystone walls and field barns. Between the moors and the North Sea are the harbour town of Whitby and the resort of Scarborough; to the south-west is the Victorian spa town of Harrogate.
This guide covers five areas outside the city of York, which has its own guide: Whitby and Robin Hood's Bay, Scarborough, Harrogate and Knaresborough, the North York Moors and the Yorkshire Dales. Trains reach Whitby, Scarborough, Harrogate, Skipton and Settle, two heritage lines cross the national parks, and Coastliner and DalesBus services link the smaller places.
Zone
Each area has its own mini guide with 93 sights, places to eat and drink, and where to stay across the city.
Harbour town at the mouth of the Esk, with the abbey, Captain Cook and Dracula
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Two sandy bays, a castle headland and the resort that grew from a spa
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Victorian spa town with gardens and baths, and the Nidd gorge at Knaresborough
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Heather moorland, abbeys, market towns and the steam railway
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Limestone country: Malham, Wharfedale, Wensleydale and the Three Peaks
Apri la mini guida →Luoghi da vedere
A sight from each area. Every area guide lists the rest, with directions and official links.
Ruins of a Benedictine abbey on the East Cliff, on the site of a 7th-century monastery; cared for by English Heritage.
Ruined medieval royal fortress on the headland; the site also has Iron Age and Roman remains. Cared for by English Heritage.
Grade II listed park of 17 acres, laid out in 1887 for Queen Victoria's golden jubilee.
Medieval castle ruins in the market town of Helmsley; cared for by English Heritage.
Curved limestone cliff a kilometre north of Malham, formed by a meltwater waterfall after the last Ice Age, with limestone pavement on top.
Grade I listed parish church founded around 1110 on the East Cliff, beside the abbey, at the top of the 199 Church Steps.
Curved museum built in 1829, one of the first purpose-built museums in the country, with Jurassic geology from the Yorkshire coast.
Hydrotherapy centre opened by the town in 1897; its Victorian Turkish baths are still in use.
1 / 12Animal attractions, railways, science centres, beaches and caves from our Yorkshire guide, grouped by type. We hold no age ratings or child prices: check each place’s own site for age limits, height rules and family tickets.
North Bay RailwayHeritage railway, Scarborough
Pickering stationHeritage railway, North York Moors
Grosmont stationHeritage railway, North York MoorsPractical help: travelling with children and where to stay in Yorkshire.
Itinerari
Brevi percorsi che collegano le zone tra loro.
Come arrivare
York, Leeds and Middlesbrough are the rail gateways. From them, branch lines run to Whitby, Scarborough, Harrogate, Skipton and Settle, and Coastliner buses run to the coast. Always check the operator for current times, fares and disruption.
Northern runs the Esk Valley line from Middlesbrough to Whitby. Scarborough station is managed by TransPennine Express and is the end of its route from York. Northern trains run from Leeds and York to Knaresborough and Harrogate, and LNER runs some direct trains between Harrogate and London King's Cross. For the Dales, Northern serves Skipton from Leeds and Settle on the Settle–Carlisle line.
Transdev's Coastliner 840 and 843 run from Leeds via York and Malton to Whitby and Scarborough. DalesBus 74 runs from York via Knaresborough, Harrogate, Otley and Ilkley to Grassington.
Leeds Bradford Airport is west of Harrogate and south of the Dales. See our airport page for onward buses, trains and taxis.
The North Yorkshire Moors Railway runs 24 miles between Pickering and Whitby, calling at Levisham, Newtondale Halt, Goathland and Grosmont. The Settle–Carlisle line is 72 miles long and crosses Ribblehead Viaduct.
Bus and heritage railway timetables change by season. Check the operator before you travel.
Heritage trains link Pickering, Levisham, Newtondale Halt, Goathland, Grosmont and Whitby. Bridge 42 at Grosmont, which carries trains towards Whitby, needs repair, so check the railway's travel updates for how far trains run.
Northern trains from Leeds and Skipton stop at Settle, Horton-in-Ribblesdale, Ribblehead, Dent and Garsdale, all useful for walks in the western Dales.
DalesBus lists all-year buses between Skipton, Grassington and Buckden, the Harrogate to Skipton 59, Saturday and summer services, and the Nidderdale 24.
The national park authority says its Malham, Horton-in-Ribblesdale and Aysgarth Falls car parks tend to be the busiest, so have a back-up plan on fine weekends.
Quando andare
Both national parks are open all year, but heritage trains, some buses and many attractions keep shorter hours in winter.
Longer days and quieter paths before the school holidays. Check opening days for smaller attractions and heritage railways before you go.
School holidays bring the most visitors. National Parks UK describes the open moorland as ablaze with purple heather in summer, and the Dales park authority warns that Malham, Horton and Aysgarth car parks fill first.
Quieter towns once the school holidays end. The North Yorkshire Moors Railway's main running season ends in autumn, followed by festive specials.
Short days and the shortest opening hours. Check each attraction's winter days and the weather before driving over the high moorland roads.
Gite di un giorno
Ideas for a day away from Yorkshire. Check the operators for times and tickets.
The walled city, the Minster and the National Railway Museum. Coastliner buses link York with Whitby and Scarborough.
York guide →
The ruined Cistercian abbey and the Studley Royal water garden near Ripon, a World Heritage Site cared for by the National Trust.
National Trust: Fountains Abbey →
The baroque house and gardens in the Howardian Hills, about 15 miles north of York.
Castle Howard →FAQ
No. York has its own guide with five city areas. This guide covers the coast, Harrogate and the two national parks, and links back to York for the city.
Yes. Northern trains run to Skipton and along the Settle–Carlisle line, and DalesBus lists all-year buses such as Skipton to Grassington and Buckden, plus Saturday and summer extras.
The North Yorkshire Moors Railway's route runs from Pickering to Whitby, but Bridge 42 at Grosmont needs repair. Check the NYMR's travel updates before you plan a through journey.
Whitby suits a first visit: it has the abbey and harbour, a station and Coastliner buses. Helmsley or Pickering suit walkers and drivers who want the abbeys and the steam railway.
National Parks UK describes the open moorland of the North York Moors as ablaze with purple heather in summer.
Nearby places
Our closest other guides, by straight-line distance between centres. Road and rail distances are longer: check a journey planner.
Photos from Wikimedia Commons, used under the licences shown. All photo credits
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