Walking routes to explore in North York Moors
Coastal Pubs | Outdoor Activities | Pub | Pub Accommodation | Walking | Posted 2024.06.28
The North York Moors is a beautiful national park in North Yorkshire, perfect for walking. It’s made up of heather moorland, deep valleys, and ancient woodlands, covering approximately 554 square miles. The park supports diverse wildlife and offers numerous outdoor activities such as walking, cycling, and bird-watching, making it a popular destination for nature enthusiasts and tourists.
In this blog we will explore a few walks around the beautiful region, allowing you to see glimpses of the best parts of the North York Moors. Varying in distance and length you can choose for walking route based on what you want to see, where you want to go and how long for. On top of this, we will recommend a couple of pubs in the area offering accommodation for your visit.
Ingleby Incline walk
Starting at Battersby Station this walking route takes you through woodlands to the impressive Ingleby Incline. Built in the 1860s to transport ironstone, the nearly mile-long incline features a steep 1-in-5 gradient unsuitable for steam engines. Instead, a cable railway used gravity to lower wagons. Constructed in seven months using gunpowder and picks, a snapped cable could send wagons hurtling down at 113 mph, causing devastation.
From the top of the incline, the walk heads back along a section of the Cleveland Way National Trail, across open moorland with stunning views across to Middlesbrough, Teesside and the coast.
Distance: 9 mi
Duration: 4:00 h
Ravenscar to Robin Hood’s Bay
This walk takes you on a circular route to Ravenscar National Trust Coastal Centre through the varied and beautiful landscapes in the North York Moors. The start of the walking route runs across Howdale Moor, where you can enjoy some classic moorland scenery before dropping down to the old Scarborough-to-Whitby railway line (Cinder Track) and along to the famous smugglers’ haunt of Robin Hood’s Bay. Both here, and at nearby Boggle Hole, you can indulge in a spot of rock-pooling and fossil hunting, before returning along an exhilarating clifftop stretch of the Cleveland Way National Trail, via the old alum works industrial site.
Distance: 10 mi
Duration: 4:50 h
May Beck and Falling Foss
May Beck and Falling Foss trail takes you through the trees on a 2-mile circular route that passes an idyllic woodland tea garden and the 30-foot Falling Foss waterfall, before returning alongside babbling May Beck. It’s a lovely shady walk for summer – with shallow waters to paddle in, and a bridge to play pooh-sticks from – and spectacular in autumn when the woodland colours are at their best.
A short walk from Falling Foss is a cave carved out of an enormous boulder. Known locally as the ‘Hermitage’ and dating from as far back as the 18th century, it was once the secluded home of a hermit.
Distance: 1.9 mi
Duration: 0:55 h
Runswick Bay
Runswick Bay is a scenic cliff top walk along the coast of The North York Moors National Park. It’s an easy access walking route that follows the Cleveland Way National Trail as it heads north towards Staithes. The view at the turn-around point of the walk is of the remains of the harbour at Port Mulgrave. Port Mulgrave was opened in 1856 to transport iron ore from nearby mines to the furnaces of the northeast. Runswick Bay is one of the few sandy bays along the coast. Runswick is home to a picturesque fishing village filled with tightly packed houses, pocket-sized gardens and surprise views.
Distance: 2 mi
Duration: 1:00 h
Rievaulx Loop
The Rievaulx Loop is a beautiful, easy walk with stunning views of Rievaulx Abbey and Rievaulx Terrace. Part of the Ryevitalise Landscape Partnership Scheme, this route is one of six new trails designed to showcase the majestic River Rye as it winds through ancient woodlands, marshy grasslands, and species-rich meadows. Roam the babbling becks, stand beneath an ancient tree, and keep an eye out for the vibrant blue feathers of a kingfisher. In the evening, look out for bats and owls. In the spring look out for wild garlic, primroses, wood anemones, violets and bluebells.
Distance: 2.5 mi
Duration: 1:10 h
Danby Castle walk
Danby Castle Walk is a 2-mile route taking you from Danby Lodge National Park centre to Danby Castle through quaint paths and quiet lanes. Danby Castle, the ancestral home of the Danby Estate, overlooks the Esk Valley. The castle features 14th-century ruins, a 16th-century Court Room, and a barn. Originally an 18th-century gamekeeper’s cottage, it has been a tea garden since the 1930s. On your walk, head down into the dale and visit Danby Lodge National Park Centre, the estate’s former shooting lodge. On the way back you will be able to stop at Danby’s old Duck Bridge.
Distance: 2.3 mi
Duration: 1:00 h
Pubs with rooms in the North York Moors
Stables at Whitby
The Stables at Whitby is a beautifully refurbished pub sitting in the coastal town of Whitby. The pub has great views of The North York Moors countryside, which can be seen in the pub’s open dining room and outside in the beautiful pub garden. Inside the pub are nine gorgeous bedrooms.
More information and book The Stables at Whitby
The King’s Head Inn
Found on the north border of The North York Moors, in the village of Newton under Roseberry, is The King’s Head Inn, a traditional country inn. The pub is highly acclaimed and has previously been a finalist at the Great British Pub Awards for the “Best Family Pub”.
More information and book The King’s Head Inn
The Black Swan
In the heart of the picturesque town of Helmsley is the Black Swan, a 15th century coaching inn. The pub has open fires, beamed ceilings and a picturesque terrace with an Elizabethan building on one end, a Tudor building to the other and a Georgian House in the middle. This pub serves seasonal pub classics, rotating specials and a popular Sunday roast.
More information and book The Black Swan
Duke of York
Overlooking Whitby Harbour, the Duke of York pub sits at the base of 199 steps, offering a perfect spot to enjoy dinner while watching the boats. The pub features several bedrooms, some of which are dog-friendly and family-friendly, making it an ideal choice for those wishing to bring along their family or pets for this exploration.
More information and book the Duke of York
The White Swan Inn
The White Swan Inn is a charming and character-filled establishment. With its open fires, elegant dining rooms, and gorgeous bedrooms, it exudes a warm and inviting ambiance. The bedrooms are tastefully decorated to create a homely feel, ensuring guests feel instantly relaxed after a day of walking in the North York Moors.