Moorland

Beautiful heather moorland lies at the very heart of the North York Moors National Park. Unenclosed and unsurpassed, this stunning landscape has a quiet drama all of its own.

Responding sensitively to the changing seasons, the moorland is a special place whatever time of year.

The call of the moorland birds characterise the early summer and, as the summer evenings draw in, the flowering heather turns the moors into a purple carpet stetching for miles across the open vistas.

In winter the moors can be exceptionally beautiful, inspiring artists and writers and providing a wonderful opportunity to brush away the cobwebs of daily life or to simply stand and stare.

Fire alert: during the summer months the heather can become very dry and susceptible to fire. Accidental fires damage the moors and their wildlife as the peaty soils can burn for months. If you visit the North York Moors please take great care not to start fires. Please don’t drop matches, cigarettes or glass and please don’t light fires or use barbecues on the moors.

Find out more about how moorland is managed in the Learning Zone.