Where can I walk with my dog in the North York Moors

You should always keep your dog on a lead or to heel on moorland to protect rare birds and wildlife. If you want to exercise your dog more freely, then please consider a walk with your dog in the national park away from the moorland areas.

On this page, you can find some routes in the national park which you can walk with your dog.

We have chosen these walks as suitable for dogs because they
• Have very few stiles to cross
• Avoid moorland areas with the most sensitive wildlife
• Mostly do not cross fields with livestock (however in some places this cannot be avoided – please keep your dog on a short lead in fields with livestock)

Cartoon Image of Dog There are three types of walk to choose from - Countryside Walks, Coastal Walks and Walks in Forestry Commission Woods.

Countryside Dog Walks

Lingmoor from Hutton-le-Hole – 3.5 mile/5.6 km

Blansby Park from Pickering - 5 mile/8 km

Scotch Corner from Sutton Bank – 5 mile/8 km

Kilburn Woods from Sutton Bank – 6 mile/9.6 km

Sand Dale and Ellerburn from Thornton le Dale - 6 mile/10 km

Nettle Dale and the Hambleton Hills from Sutton Bank – 9 mile/14.5 km

Coastal Dog Walks

These walks are based on the spectacular Heritage Coast of the North York Moors National Park. The walks include sections on cliff tops - some of the cliff may be unfenced, and you are advised to keep your dog on a short lead for safety on these sections - for further details see the 'walk facts for dog owners' information for each walk.

Boggle Hole from Robin Hood’s Bay – 2.5 mile/4 km

Staithes and Port Mulgrave - 3.8 miles/6.2 km

Cloughton to Crook Ness - 4 mile/6.75 km

Ravenscar and Common Cliff - 4.2 miles/6.8 km

Cloughton and Hayburn Wyke - 4.5 mile/7.6 km

Maw Wyke from Robin Hood’s Bay – 6 mile/9.6 km

Walks With Dogs in Forestry Commission Woods

Forestry Commission woods are a great place for you and your dog to explore. You can let your dog off the lead - but always make sure he is under control.

Forestry Commission woods are great to visit any time of year, but you can help protect rare moorland birds by choosing a walk in the forests especially from March to July when ground nesting birds are breeding on the moors.

There are over 55 square miles (144km²) of Forestry Commission woodland in the National Park where dogs are welcome. This includes the forests at Dalby, Langdale, Cropton, Boltby and Silton. As well as public rights of way, these forests have many other good tracks and paths which you are welcome to explore with your dog.

May Beck and Falling Foss - 2 miles/3.1 km

Dalby Forest/Bickley Gate: Deep Dale - 2 miles/3.3 km or 4.8 miles/7.8 km

May Beck and Newton House Plantation - 2.5 miles/4 km

Clay Bank and Greenhow Plantation - 3 miles/5 km

Dalby Forest/Bickley Gate: Jerry Noddle - 3.5 miles/5.7 km

Clay Bank and Broughton Plantation - 3.5 miles/5.5 km

Levisham Station and Newtondale: Raindale - 3.5 miles/5.7 km

Cropton Forest: Spiers House and Sutherland Road - 4.1 miles/6.6 km

Silton Forest - 4.2 miles/6.75 km

Levisham Station and Newtondale: Heads Road - 4.75 miles/7.6 km

Broxa Forest: Reasty Hill Top and Barns Cliff - 5.7 miles/9.3 km

Levisham Station and Newtondale: Pickering Beck - 6 miles/9.8 km

Cockmoor Hall and Dalby Forest - 6 miles/9.6km

Moorland ‘Dog Welcome’ Areas

Cartoon of dog on lead (copyright Mode Design) In most moorland areas of the national park, landowners have used legal powers to exclude dogs from ‘open access land’. Dogs are still allowed on moorland rights of way, but they have to stay on the path. However, there are some ‘Dog Welcome’ areas on the moorland where landowners allow dogs to be exercised off rights of way and off lead (but under control). You need to make sure that you stay inside the Welcome area and do not stray onto nearby land where dogs are not allowed.