We recently spent a little over a week exploring our back garden, the north Yorkshire moors. With its picturesque landscapes and chocolate box villages, as well as a dramatic and rugged coastline, it’s got it all. We were fortunate enough to get some glorious sunshine this October and so were able to enjoy the great outdoors. So, if you’re planning a trip to North Yorkshire, read on for some lovely spots and things to do you shouldn’t miss. This 1 Week itinerary around the North Yorkshire Moors can create a jam-packed week or be spread out over two with plenty of time for rest and reading between activities.
Table of Contents:
Thirsk: White Horse Walk
Enjoy a walk that takes you past a turf-cut hillside landmark, the Kilburn White Horse, which is a large art attack of a white horse. You can start at the Sutton Bank National Park Centre, (which is paid parking) or choose one of the Lower White Horse car parks (which are free). No matter where you start there you can jump on a walking or cycle trail. If you start at the visitor center you can enjoy a 3-mile hike that takes you past a viewpoint for the famous white horse, then onto a viewpoint popularized by local author James Herriot.
For fans of All Creatures Great and Small, Thirsk also offers the opportunity to visit The World of James Herriot.
Hemsley: Walk from Hemsley to Riverux
Next stop is the market town of Hemsley. It’s incredibly quaint and a sweet place to just look around the independent shops and stop at the bakery for a coffee and cake. However, if you fancy something a bit more active, we loved the 7-mile hike that takes you on a circular route from Hemsley around the Rievaulx abbey and back.
If you’re active enough the walk won’t be too challenging, however, there are a few hills and plenty of uneven ground. As a reward for getting in your steps, you’ll be treated to wide sweeping views, some beautiful woodland scenery, and a great view of the historic abbey. You can pay to look around the ruins which are English Heritage and personally we thought it a little pricey. However, you can just hit the EH cafe for a floor-to-ceiling view of the abbey framed by the trees.
Download the OS Maps app, which will help you follow the route and give you the options of tons of others all around the UK.
Thornton le Dale
Visit the idyllic village of Thornton le Dale. While there’s not much here, it’s the perfect place to stop for a leg stretch. The quaint cottages have literally been used on boxes of biscuits sold in the UK. There are a few independent businesses that sell sweet treats and a couple of bike rental places too for if you’re planning to head from here up to Dalby Forrest…
Dalby Forrest
This great Yorkshire forest is situated on the southern slopes of the North Yorkshire moors and boasts 800 acres of woodland to explore. There are a bunch of trails for hiking & mountain biking. So no matter your fitness level or ability they’ll be something for you, just remember to take a picnic!
Goathland & Mallyan Spout Waterfall
If you’re a fan of either Harry Potter or Heartbeat you won’t want to is Goathland. This really picturesque village was featured as Aidensfield in the ITV program Heartbeat. Its steam-train station was Hogsmede station in the first Harry Potter film. In addition to seeing this filming location, you can take a short walk from Goathland to Mallyan Spout. The walk starts at the Mallyan Spout hotels, and it only takes around 10 – 15 minutes to reach the tallest waterfall in the North Yorkshire moors. We stopped here for a very icy dip, but be careful because speaking from experience, the rocks are slippy!
Whitby & The Sheep Sanctuary
Even if you’ve been before, you can’t miss a stop in Whitby. I love it every time we go. The famous seaside town gave inspiration to Bram Stoker while writing the 10/10 novel Dracula. If you want to know the ins and outs of things and places referenced in the novel you can do a Dracula Walking Tour. Whitby is also home to the Dracula experience, but if trip advisor is anything to go by, it may not be worth a visit.
Climb the 199 steps up to Whitby Abbey to explore the ruins and enjoy atmospheric views of the harbor. Once at the top, if you head around the back of the Abbey you’ll find Whitby Brewery. The Brewery is the perfect place to stop for a vegan beer and take in the best view of the Abbey. In addition to the steps and Dracula-related hot spots, Whitby has tons of independent shops to explore.
Close to Whitby is the Sheep Sanctuary. Here you can stay in glamping pods and enjoy spending time with over 300 animals in the heart of the National Parks North Yorkshire moors. We haven’t been yet but this place is definitely on my list. You can also do sheep walks at certain times. To support the amazing work they do to care for animals consider donating here.
Robins Hoods Bay
Robin Hoods Bay is a small fishing village, famous for being a smuggler’s paradise. It’s situated only 6 miles away from Whitby. If you’re feeling energetic you can walk the gorgeous coastal path from Whitby to RHB. We did this walk on a gloriously sunny day, it was amazing! However, it is super hilly so we ended up getting the bus back. Robins Hoods Bay is incredibly picturesque with lots of tiny windy streets lined with little traditional style shops. Perfect for an afternoon exploring or a lazy day.
Was anything missing from this week-long itinerary? What are your unmissable spots when visiting the North Yorkshire Moors?
Thank you for reading!
Most of the photographs in this blog were shot on film, read about my Olympus-Pen EE-3 here.