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5 reasons to visit the North York Moors

The North York Moors is located (as the name would suggest) north of York and is one of the most popular places to visit in Yorkshire. The Jurassic scenery of the Moors includes wide open areas of heather moorland, beautiful lush green valleys, stunning cliffs and coastline, charming towns and villages, famous hills and one of the world’s most popular steam railways.

You can take a day trip from York to the North York Moors with Grand Yorkshire on two different tours covering five days every week from March to November. Here are just five of the many reasons to visit the North York Moors on a day trip from York:

  1. It’s a National Park. With an area of 554 square miles, the North York Moors is one of Britain’s 15 National Parks and contains the UK’s largest continuous heather moorland. The unique landscape has been a national park since 1952.
  2. Whitby. The quaint fishing town on the edge of the North York Moors inspired Bram Stoker’s Dracula and is where Captain Cook learned to sail. Home to Whitby Abbey, the Magpie Cafe (the world’s most famous fish & chip restaurant), beautiful Whitby Harbour, a dramatic section of Jurassic coastline, St Mary’s Church, the 199 steps…Whitby is packed with treasures and is the jewel of the Yorkshire coastline.
  3. Heartbeat Country. The scenery of the North York Moors is a huge part of what made ‘Heartbeat’ such a success. The village of Goathland, better known to Heartbeat fans as ‘Aidensfield’, has retained its 1960s style and character. You can visit the Aidensfield Arms, Scripps Garage, Aidensfield Stores and Aidensfield railway station – and you’ll almost certainly see a Ford Anglia police car or two parked in the village.
  4. Spectacular Scenery and Awe-Inspiring Views. Head to Bank Top for a look at the amazing scenery of Rosedale, climb Roseberry Topping for a stunning 360-degree panorama, or take a walk around Lord Stones for views across the Moors and past the Cleveland Hills to Teeside.
  5. The North Yorkshire Moors Railway. The “world’s most popular heritage railway” gives you the opportunity to relive the golden age of rail travel by taking a steam train ride through the North York Moors. Visit the engine sheds at Grosmont, explore the history of the railway in Pickering and see the station which was used as ‘Hogsmeade Station’ in the Harry Potter films…or simply relax in restored 1930s carriages as you travel across the Moors behind a vintage steam engine. Click here to read about the steam trains running across the North York Moors.

You can visit the North York Moors on a day trip from York with Grand Yorkshire on one of two tours: