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St David's Cathedral

Pembroke

in the county of Pembrokeshire

Pictures of North York Moors National Park

a National Park in the county of North Yorkshire

About North York Moors National Park

Many will tell you they have never seen the Yorkshire Moors, yet often you can catch a glimpse of this magical area simply by watching the television series 'Heartbeat' the production of which is set in the lovely moorland village of Goathland. The hauntingly beautiful scenery of the moors is a seemingly endless feast of high rolling hills enblazoned with purple heather and bright yellow gorse. Gurgling streams flow through peaceful green valleys, and waterfalls cascade down towering rocky crevices in the high moorland hinterland behind the busy coastal resorts that fringe the moors. Dark forests, offer sanctuary to rare and beautiful birds such as goldcrests, great spotted woodpeckers, siskins, pheasants and jays. These woods are the natural habitat of squirrels, rabbits and foxes and, beautiful roe-deer who roam freely beneath the cover of spreading oaks, birch and hazel trees. The moors possess only a scattering of villages and tiny market towns were sturdy stone cottages and other buildings huddle together as if to seek shelter from a threatening icy wind. The neat, hedge bordered fields of the lower moors is in sharp contrast to the dry stone walls surrounding the grazing fields of the upper, more remote regions. Reminders of the great estates that still own vast tracts of moorland can be seen in the shooting lodges and ancient farms, sparsely interspersed on the lonely moortops.

The moors are a region of high vizual beauty and ensconsed within them are dark secrets of an ancient past extending as far back as the Bronze Age. The mysterious bridestones at Nab Ridge in Bilsdale are thought to form the remains of a burial chamber, whilst to the edge of Dalby Forest on Bridestones Moor, huge rocks have been weathered into fascinating giant shapes by thousands of years of wind and icy weather.

Today tourists, drawn by the bewitching scenery, descend on the Yorkshire moors from every corner of England and beyond. They tramp mile after endless mile on foot (for this is fabulous walking country) exploring ancient sites and moorland towns and villages.
ROBIN HOOD'S BAY makes an interesting and beautiful location for exploring the fine moorland coast, it has a beach of golden sand and was once the haunt of smugglers. WHITBY, is a former whaling port with a long seafaring history, ancient buildings, ruins and links with the explorer Captain James Scott, who once lived here. SCARBOROUGH, has a refined atmosphere, largely due to its stately buildings and sweeping manicured lawns along cliffside gardens. FILEY, has splendid victorian terraces, a fine sandy beach, good fishing and a reputation as ' a fun for all the family' resort. The village of GOATHLAND is a centre for moorland walks and waterfalls, the buildings here are mainly of the 19th-century. At the junction of Derwent lies the village of HACKNESS, it has a lovely medieval church and is a good centre from which to explore the wildly beautiful Langdale Forest. The origins of PICKERING stretch back to Celtic times, it has terraces of stone cottages, the ruins of a medieval castle and its ancient church has medieval frescoes. Pickering is the terminus for the North Yorkshire Moors Railway. The rich birdlife of the FORGE VALLEY includes nuthatch and warbler, alder and willow cover the valley floor, while lofty oaks, ash and elm decorate the curving hillside. THE CLEVELAND WAY, is a ninety mile path running from north of Filey to Saltburn-by-the-Sea, at which point the path turns inland and continues across the moors to Helmsley, travelling through some of the most picturesque scenery of the North Moors National Park. HELMSLEY, has a romantic ruinous castle built by Walter I'Espec, the founder of the magnificent RIEVAULX ABBEY, built in 1131 and now a hauntingly beautiful ruin. DALBY FOREST has paths and a picnic area at STAINDALE LAKE. Over the years millions of fossils found at RAVENSCAR can be seen in museums throughout the country, the rugged headland of Old Peak is National Trust property. There are geological trails and magnificent views. For fun and interest take a trip on the restored NORTH YORKSHIRE MOORS RAILWAY, the line runs through splendid scenery taking in PICKERING CASTLE DEER PARK it journeys through the lush greenery of NEWTON DALE, skirts the NORTH RIDING FOREST PARK and continues through delightful GOATHLAND and beautiful BECK HOLE, completing its journey at the hillside village of GROSMONT. The open air RYEDALE FOLK MUSEUM in HUTTON-le-HOLE covers two thousand years of history and gives a fascinating insight into moorland life, showing amongst its many reconstructed historic buildings an Elizabethan Manor and cottages from three different centuries. Bringing the moors into the 21st-century are the buildings of the Early Warning System plant, unwanted by many and situated on the bleak FLYINGDALES MOOR.

The lure of the moors is endless, so diverse is the attraction; miles of beautiful coast, dotted with lively seaside town's and picturesque coastal villages, merge with lush valleys grazed by sleepy cattle and sheep, densely wooded forests sit on far horizons, waterfalls gush through rock formations that have stood for thousands of years, and from the high rolling moorland, dominated by lofty peaks, there are wonderous views and magical sunsets. A rare peace and serenity pervades this often lonely, but always lovely region, the North Yorkshire Moors are special and unique with a distinctive splendour of their own.

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Recommended towns & villages near North York Moors National Park

Rosedale View

Rosedale Abbey (20 Pictures)

in the county of North Yorkshire

(1.4 miles, 2.3 km, direction S)

This is a lovely village hidden in a lush green valley landscape of sweeping hillsides, meadows and breathtaking scenery...

Westerdale ford. North Yorkshire Moors.

Westerdale (2 Pictures)

in the county of North Yorkshire

(6.2 miles, 9.9 km, direction NW)

Nestling in the heart of the North Yorkshire Moors National Park, Westerdale affords the visitor wonderful views over the surrounding dales...

Beck Hole

Beck Hole (22 Pictures)

a Picturesque Village in the county of North Yorkshire

(6.6 miles, 10.7 km, direction NE)

A picturesque village near to Goathland..

Station House, Levisham

Levisham (19 Pictures)

a Picturesque Village in the county of North Yorkshire

(7.9 miles, 12.7 km, direction SE)

This beautiful isolated moorland village overlooks Newton Dale; the road plunges down towards the station, a watermill and a church, on Levisham Beck...

Pickering Castle

Pickering (140 Pictures)

a Historic Market Town in the county of North Yorkshire

(10.0 miles, 16.1 km, direction SE)

The enduring popularity of the East Coast of North Yorkshire owes much to the excellent long sandy beaches, while the lure of the wild moorland and its communities never fades...

All towns in North Yorkshire
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Recommended attractions near North York Moors National Park

Rosedale. North York Moors.

Rosedale Moor (5 Pictures)

(1.0 miles, 1.6 km)

Historically this breathtakingly beautiful moors area was an industrial centre for ironstone mining during the 19th and early.....

Indian Summer October 2009

Sneaton Forest (4 Pictures)

(10.7 miles, 17.2 km, direction E)

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The ruined Gatehouse as seen from the Castle yard. Helmsley Castle, North Yorkshire

Helmsley Castle (30 Pictures)

(11.4 miles, 18.4 km, direction SW)

This is a fascinating site where you can explore the 12th century ruins of a once great castle and spectacular earthworks cut.....

A forest trail, Dalby Forest, North Yorkshire

Dalby Forest (17 Pictures)

(11.5 miles, 18.5 km, direction SE)

The Dalby Forest lies in the majestic northern uplands at the edge of North Yorkshire Moors National Park. It is mostly a.....

Animals at Flamingo Land Theme Park & Zoo

Flamingo Land Theme Park & Zoo (4 Pictures)

(11.7 miles, 18.8 km, direction S)

Flamingo Land Theme Park & Zoo, situated in Kirby Misperton, North Yorkshire, stands as a dynamic and multifaceted attraction......


All attractions in North Yorkshire
Complete A to Z of attractions in England