Senses through the year

Use your senses to experience the North York Moors - at any time of the year!

Invigorate your senses and work your way through the typical sights, smells and noises belonging to our National Park. To immerse yourself in them all you may have to return more than a couple of times!

January

• See a traditional performance dating back to the 19th century by one of the oldest long sword teams in Yorkshire 
• Touch the 'Story of Bay' mosaic across 125 metres of sea wall depicting the rich history of Robin Hood's Bay
• Smell a log burning fire whilst relaxing in one of our many cosy pubs on the moors and coast
• Hear a classic winter storm through the fury of the waves, but hopefully from the comfort of indoors
• Taste a proper Yorkshire cuppa, preferably strong and without sugar

February

• See the splendour of Whitby Abbey casting its iconic silhouette on the East cliff
• Touch a reminder of Whitby's whaling past
• Smell the salty, sea air whilst walking our 26 mile stretch of coastline, all Cleveland Way Trail
• Hear sea birds jostling for position whilst clinging onto the towering coastal cliffs
• Taste a local delicacy and national favourite from one of the many award-winning fish and chip shops in Whitby

March

• See the varying landscapes that the 150 mile Moors to Sea Cycle Network has to offer
• Touch one of the oldest Christian monuments in the country, our beloved Lilla Cross on Fylingdales Moor
• Smell the aroma of wafting oak wood smoke from traditional smoked kippers from Whitby's Fortune's Smokehouse
• Hear about past industry and life of a Cleveland miner at the informative Cleveland Ironstone Mining Museum
• Taste samples from the ever-popular farmers' markets dotted around the area

April

• See the spectacular wild daffodils in full bloom at Farndale
• Touch (but really grab hold of) the oars and have a paddle down the river Esk on Ruswarp's rowing boats
• Smell the plumes of smoke from the infamous steam trains on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway
• Hear music amongst many activities and sights during the bi-annual Whitby Goth Weekend
• Taste the infamous lemon bun from Botham's of Whitby

May

• See and ride one of the oldest water-powered funicular railways in the world in Saltburn
• Touch numerous rock art examples and a bronze age burial ground, perfectly preserved on Fylingdales Moor
• Smell the sweet scent of wild bluebells whilst walking in one of our woodland havens
• Hear the classic curlew call whilst it's returned to the moors for breeding and nesting
• Taste the pungent wild garlic from many of our woodland areas

June

• See perfectly camouflaged chicks (if you look close enough) while rambling on the high moors
• Touch the swathes of cotton grass in the boggy upland areas
• Smell the donkeys whilst they meander up and down Whitby beach offering rides
• Hear the elusive and mystical nightjar around dusk at Broxa Forest
• Taste the delicious cakes this area is renowned for, it's no wonder we're called the Capital of Cake

July

• See the novelty of the sunrise and sunset stood in the same place, on the same day at Saltwick Bay
• Touch the fascinating carnivorous sundew plant which can be found in boggy moorland patches
• Smell the sweet, coconut notes of the prickly gorse bush - typical to our moorland landscape
• Hear the distinctive call of the red grouse, which lives nowhere else in the world but UK moorland
• Taste a pint of the sweet stuff from one of our ever-increasing microbreweries

August

• See a variety of events from horse jumping to tug 'o' war taking place at one of our local country shows
• Touch the latest yarn bombers creations on Saltburn pier, mysteriously appearing each year
• Smell heather filling the air whilst passing through the purple haze of our moorland
• Hear all about the trials and tribulations of smuggling days on one of Baytown's fantastic tours
• Taste a moorland bilberry, fantastic for baking or a walker's sweet treat

September

• See the vibrant and varying artwork for one weekend only on the bustling streets of Staithes
• Touch the sand beneath your toes on any of our individual and unique beaches
• Smell seaweed washed adrift on the beach or learn how to cook with it on a Real Staithes course
• Hear a minke whale just metres from the boat whilst on a whale watching tour   
• Taste Cleveland's signature cone, the 'Lemon Top' - dairy ice cream served with a swirl of lemon sorbet

October

• See the Milky Way with your naked eye at one of our three dark sky discovery sites
• Touch your little piece of history from millions of years ago - our Jurassic coast is one of the best places to find fossils
• Smell the rank and damp Boggle Hole cave, home to the 'boggles'  
• Hear tales of the ghosts and ghouls, myths and legends from the folklore on our coast
• Taste rosehip syrup freshly picked from our wooded areas, you can easily make your own

November

• See salmon making a journey to their place of birth to spawn at the aptly named 'Salmon Leap' in Sleights
• Touch wall to wall without breaking a sweat in the narrowest street in north England in Staithes
• Smell fallen leaves in the ancient woodland of Forge Valley, thought to be 6000 years old
• Hear the newly born seal pups calling for their parents at the ever-growing seal colony in Ravenscar
• Taste our award-winning heather honey straight from a hive on the moors

December

• See Robin Hood's Bay's annual Victorian Weekend which doubles up with Baytown Beer Festival
• Touch the classic black gemstone and hear about its humble beginnings at the Whitby Jet Heritage Centre
• Smell the familiar pine scent in a local shop, pub or café from a beautifully decorated locally grown Christmas tree 
• Hear the cascading water of Falling Foss on a rewarding woodland walk before returning alongside May Beck
• Taste an authentic Yorkshire pudding whilst having Sunday lunch at one of our many recommended local pubs