North York Moors and Coast

Lush green fields, atmospheric woods, vast open moorland, dramatic coastline, vibrant market towns and picturesque villages; the North York Moors has contrasting scenery and is the perfect place to get away from it all. Add to this, a seemingly limitless supply of historic buildings, beautiful beaches and family attractions, and you will have a different adventure each day.

Traditions and heritage are important to the people who live on the Moors; arts and crafts, folk music and local recipes can all be found in the villages that scatter this landscape.
You will also find an array of fantastic activities from horse riding and mountain biking to aerial assault courses and gliding which will keep guests of all ages occupied for hours.
Yorkshire's long and varied coastline has dramatic cliffs and beautiful coastal walks, bustling family resorts with golden sandy beaches and pretty traditional fishing villages with simply loads of charm and character.

The ancient and picturesque fishing town of Whitby has a maze of cobbled alleyways and narrow streets that lead down to the quay side. Here visitors will find a host of speciality shops, traditional pubs and the charming pantiled houses that are so characteristic of Whitby.
The ruins of St. Hilda’s Abbey on Whitby’s east cliff dominate the skyline. From the old town centre it’s possible to climb the 199 steps up to the parish church of St. Mary where Bram Stoker was inspired to write 'Dracula', or maybe less strenuously visitors can eat fish and chips at the end of the pier while watching to coming and going of the boats in the harbour.

To the north of Whitby lie the lovely fishing villages of Staithes and Runswick Bay and to the south is Robin Hoods Bay. Because of their natural beauty they soon became popular haunts for artists and have been attracting visitors for many years who want to simply soak up the special atmosphere of these places.

Further to the south the lively seaside resort of Scarborough, with its elegant Esplanade and magnificent Spa, is only a short drive down the coast and is North Yorkshire's largest seaside resort. The town has been attracting visitors for over 350 years and makes an ideal family holiday, with safe sandy beaches and lots of visitor attractions that will suit all the family.

Down the coast the Edwardian coastal town of Filey has an award winning five mile stretch of sandy beach. Visitors can take it easy along the Filey Brigg nature trail or get more active by going surfing, fishing and yachting or getting in a round of golf.

Close by Bridlington also has beautiful beaches and famous award-winning promenades. Nature lovers must visit the RSPB reserve at Bempton Cliffs, a superb day out for all the family. Here there are more than 200,000 sea birds (from April to August) that make the cliffs come alive.

A short hop south is Hornsea, with a lovely seafront, golden sands and a refurbished promenade. At Hornsea Mere (Yorkshire’s largest fresh water lake) it’s possible to go sailing or fishing and it is a haven for wildlife or travel further inland to explore the peaceful tranquillity of the Yorkshire Wolds.