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The Moors National Park Centre

The Moors National Park Centre photo by Chris J ParkerThe Moors National Park Centre photo by Chris J Parker

We are delighted to welcome you to The Moors National Park Centre and Inspired by... gallery.

The Moors National Park Centre is our historic visitor centre, set in an idyllic spot on the banks of the River Esk, near Danby. From the doorstep, you can see pretty much everything that makes the North York Moors National Park so special: moorland, woodland, farmland, miles of hedges and drystone walls, historic buildings – all basking in glorious peace and quiet.

Enjoy a big breath of moorland fresh air and soak up the sweeping views. It's an official Dark Sky Discovery Site too, one of three in the North York Moors.

Entry to the Centre is FREE. For directions and opening times, go to Planning your visit.

Keep up with the latest news at the Centre by liking their Facebook page.

Know before you go

There are still certain restrictions in place – and things might change again at any time – so please read the following before you visit and follow any instructions you see on site.

We're Good To Go accreditationWe have received VisitEngland's 'We're Good To Go' kitemark, an accreditation that shows our National Park Centre adheres to all Government and industry Covid-19 safety guidelines, has a Risk Assessment and systems in place to maintain cleanliness and aid social distancing.

Please do bear with us as we get used to new ways of working, and we hope you enjoy your time with us!

Please don’t visit if you have symptoms of COVID-19.

What to expect from your visit

  • Our staff have been trained in hygiene and social distancing and provided with the necessary Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), including face coverings, visors, disposable gloves and eye protection.
  • We have increased cleaning regimes across the Centre and grounds, and have installed hygiene screens at our Reception Desk and in the gallery. Hand sanitisers are available to use around the Centre.
  • Please be mindful of others’ heath at all times – the hygiene and cleaning routines help us keep you safe.
  • Where required, we have markers on the ground to help you maintain a safe distance.
  • Please follow one-way routes where indicated and do not enter through exit doors.
  • There are new capacity limits for our indoor facilities, with signage indicating maximum numbers in the shop, gallery and exhibition. These restrictions ensure there is plenty of room for social distancing.
  • Barriers will be in place, particularly in queuing areas such as the entrance to our shop. Staff may monitor the queues at busy times to ensure that social distancing is being maintained.
  • Don't forget, face coverings must be worn throughout the Centre. We won’t be able to provide you with a face covering; please bring your own so you don’t miss out.
  • Please make payments using a ‘contactless’ bank card, rather than cash, whenever possible.

What will be open?

The National Park Centre and gallery are currently open daily 10am–5pm.

We have restricted access to some activities and facilities to ensure that social distancing is suitably maintained. Our upstairs games, soft-play area and climbing wall remain closed at this time.

In line with the rest of the National Park Centre, the Inspired by… gallery has a one-way system in place with markers to indicate the route. Art is installed to allow social distancing between each piece. An area within the gallery has been created where enquiries and collection can take place. Art packaging will be cleaned on arrival and hand sanitiser is available.

The outdoor adventure playground is open. Please wash everyone’s hands thoroughly before and after use and avoid touching your face. Supervise your children carefully – help them have fun while keeping their social distance.

Crow Wood is also open. Follow the woodland trail and hunt down the secretive woodlings. Please be aware the bird hide may only be open at certain times.

Mobility scooters are not currently available for hire.

The car park ticket machines take cash only but are cleaned on a regular basis. If you prefer to pay by contactless card, please pay for your parking at Reception in the Centre.

Our toilets are open (daily 10am–5pm) but are operating at a reduced capacity to make social distancing easier for you. You may also find them closed for additional cleaning during the day, please be patient as our staff clean the toilets for you.

Park Life Café

Park Life Café is open with a range of hot and cold food and drink options (daily 10am-5pm). Customers are able to sit inside and outside in accordance with Government guidance. Please follow their one-way system and any procedures they have in place.

Dog policy

Dogs are not allowed in the Centre buildings or in Crow Wood, except for assistance dogs.

Crow Wood, a small woodland area, is used for children's activities such as den building and plant identification where children are likely to be in close contact with the ground and professional advice given to us is that we should avoid the potential for contamination with domestic animals.

We’re all in this together!

We know these measures and restrictions will have an impact on your visit, but please be kind and considerate to our amazing staff who are looking after the site to keep it safe for you.

You can read our full COVID-19 risk assessment which will be updated as things change.

If you have any questions or concerns, please just ask. We want you to stay safe and have a great time here at The Moors National Park Centre!

These measures will remain under constant review

If you’re thinking of visiting the North York Moors, please follow our guidelines for accessing the National Park responsibly #RespectProtectEnjoy

Frequently asked questions regarding events

While the majority of our ticketed events and activities have been cancelled or postponed, we are now able to go ahead with some events and workshops, following Government guidelines. Please check our events calendar for details and see our workshops webpage for details of any art courses still running this year.

Our guided walks programme has been cancelled for 2020 and will return in spring 2021.

We have family treasure hunts and plenty of fun educational activities for children to do throughout the school holidays. Drop in any time to find out more and pick up a trail.

Will I get a refund if I have booked an activity at The Moors National Park Centre or Inspired by... gallery?

Yes. For those who have booked on our events until 30 September via Eventbrite, you will receive an automatic refund. If you have booked via any other means i.e. made a booking at the Centre, please email inspiredbygallery@northyorkmoors.org.uk

Will my child still be attending a school trip at The Moors National Park Centre?

We are open for educational visits from September 2020 and will have measures in place to ensure that we are COVID Secure. We work closely with school staff to ensure that the right risk assessments are in place and are freely accessible.

I have further questions, can I contact someone to find out more?

Yes. Please send a direct message to us on Facebook and we will do our best to help. If you wish to get more information regarding a booking or an event, please contact inspiredbygallery@northyorkmoors.org.uk.

What if I have purchased an item from 'A First Glimpse' or 'Until the Stars Come Out' exhibition which was due to be collected on 24 March?

Please contact inspiredbygallery@northyorkmoors.org.uk or s.smith@northyorkmoors.org.uk

Accessibility

Full accessibility description available here.

Facilities

  • Pay and display car park
  • Cycle racks available
  • Bird hide
  • Children's trails, activities and events
  • Guided walks and other events
  • Indoor climbing wall and outdoor play area
  • Interactive displays
  • Inspired by... gallery
  • Gift shop with books, local crafts and souvenirs
  • Mud Kitchen for under 5s
  • Park Life Café
  • Toilets
  • Tourist Information Centre
  • Woodland and riverside trails
  • Wheelchair loan for onsite use
  • Free Refill for water bottles

Further information

Winter opening - Opening times and planning your visit

Public transport: Danby Station on the Esk Valley railway is an easy 1 mile stroll away on footpaths.

Lodge Lane
Danby
Whitby YO21 2NB
Email
Tel: 01439 772737

Join the conversation

Share your pictures and comments with us – we’d love to hear from you.