Home to rolling hills, miles of heather moorland and fantastic hidden picturesque villages, the North York Moors are full of things to see, do and explore and certainly worth a visit.

The North York Moors became a national park in 1952 and is now home to a population of over 20,000. The North York Moors is a protected area and The North York Moors National Park Authority make sure that this beautiful part of the country is protected and conserved whilst encouraging people to enjoy it, discover its secrets and understand how special it is. Click here for more information on walks in the North York Moors National Park.

Running right through the heart of the moorland is the North York Moors Railway that runs from Whitby to Pickering and offers people the chance to ride the steam trains from Grosmont to Pickering between the months of April-October. The Station in Goathland was even used as ‘Hogsmeade’ station in the Harry Potter films.

Delve deeper into Grosmont and you will discover the engine sheds where the steam locomotives are maintained and restored. Learn all about the history of the engine sheds and the history of the North York Moors Railway. Take the ‘rail trail’, a 3 ½ mile walk from Grosmont to Goathland via Beck Hole where you will find the smallest pub that you have probably been to in years.

Goathland is home to the famous television series, Heartbeat. Here you will find a number of tea rooms, shops and gift shops. It is a fantastic place to explore and walk around and you can catch the train back to Grosmont from Goathland train station.

Discover The Moors National Park Centre near Danby. You can learn all about the North York Moorsand take in the breath-taking views right on the doorstep. Exhibitions, art galleries, climbing wall, outdoor adventure play area, shop and tea room all await you. It is a fantastic place to visit for families and admission is free.