Open Access Walks

The North York Moors National Park has some of the most spectacular heather moorland in the UK. Open access rights for walkers mean that you do not have to follow rights of way over access land and you can make your own way over the moorland to explore. However if you prefer to have a walking route to guide you then this page has some access land walks. The walks use a mixture of access land and public rights of way. When you are not on access land you must stay on rights of way.

Always make sure you are properly prepared and equipped for a moorland walk. The terrain is likely to be rugged and exposed and the weather may change quickly for the worse. Make sure you follow the safety advice included with the walk route.

Remember that access land may sometimes be closed and you should check for any closures on the Natural England website:

http://www.openaccess.naturalengland.org.uk/wps/
portal/oasys/maps/MapSearch

There are restrictions on dogs on some areas of moorland access land and in these areas you cannot leave rights of way if you have a dog with you. The introduction to each walk will tell you if you can take dogs on the open access walk.

Click on the links below to download a PDF with walk instructions and a map:

Blakey Topping from Saltergate (10.7 km) 
Escape the crowds at Saltergate to explore a quieter corner of the Tabular Hills and climb the dramatic landmark of Blakey Topping. A moderate walk mainly on paths and tracks with two short but steep climbs. Dogs are allowed on this moorland route, but must be on a short lead from March to July (the breeding season for ground nesting birds) and on a lead or to heel at all other times (and always on a lead near livestock).

Fen Moor and Newtondale (5.75 km) 
On this linear walk from Eller Beck to Newtondale Halt there are spectacular views of Newtondale, and you may see steam trains on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway.
Dogs are allowed on this moorland route, but must be on a short lead from March to July (the breeding season for ground nesting birds) and on a lead or to heel at all other times (and always on a lead near livestock).

Howdale Moor and Brow Moor (6 km)
On this walk you can enjoy views of two very different landscapes of the National Park – heather moorland and rugged coastline. You cannot take dogs on this open access route as they are not allowed off rights of way on this access land.

Bumble Wood and Wheeldale Moor (9.6 km)
This walk takes you through the heart of Bumble Wood and returns back across moorland following the route of the Lyke Wake Walk. You cannot take dogs on this open access route as they are not allowed on the access land at Wheeldale Moor.

Arden Great Moor (15 km)
On this walk you take a circular detour off the Cleveland Way and follow a track around the moorland plateau of Arden Great Moor. You cannot take dogs on this open access route as they are not allowed off rights of way on this access land.

Other Short Walks on Open Access Land

Jugger Howe Nature Trail (4.3 km)

The Hawk and Owl Trust has devised a waymarked nature trail over access land at Jugger Howe Moor. The trail starts and finishes at the Jugger Howe layby off the A171 between Whitby and Scarborough (Grid Reference NZ 944002). Please note that you cannot walk the full trail route with a dog, as dogs are not allowed off rights of way on this access land. Care should be taken to stay away from heather burning operations if they are being conducted in the area (heather burning is done between 1 October and 31 March). New boardwalks are to be installed on parts of the route in spring 2012; until this time visitors should avoid very wet parts of the trail. A guide booklet to accompany the Nature Trail will be available on the Hawk and Owl Trust website in 2012 - http://www.hawkandowl.org/Fylingdales

If you have any feedback on the open access walks page please email s.blakemore@northyorkmoors-npa.gov.uk