Nature friendly

The North York Moors National Park and surrounding area is one of the best places in the country to enjoy and appreciate nature. You can enjoy summer wildflower meadows, experience wildlife deep in the forest, visit seabird colonies or book on a whale watching activity at the coast.

A network of businesses have signed up to our Nature friendly initiative, making it easy for you to plan and make the most of your stay in the area. They've gone the extra mile to offer specific activities, facilities, information or services to enhance your nature experience in the North York Moors National Park.

Accommodation providers

Offer facilities such as maps, books and binoculars to borrow or hire to enjoy nature on the premises or close by. They'll be able to help with advice on the nearest locations to enjoy wildlife, recommend great places to enjoy a brew with a view and point you towards activity providers offering organised trips.

Food and drink

Nature Friendly cafés or tea rooms are perfectly located to take in a magnificent view, see wildlife in the garden or enjoy the tranquility of a forest setting. They might loan books or charts to identify local species, borrow binoculars and maybe even have their own nature trails to follow.

Activity providers

Allow you to get one step closer to nature. Specialised, organised trips present better opportunities to spot that illusive bird or animal. Experienced guides knows how to view nature safely with minimal disruption to animals or birds. We have more wildlife watching ideas too.  

Venues and sites

Visitor centres or reserves provide information and interpretation with staff who will be keen to tell you what to see and where. Venues typically have facilities such as cafés and toilets onsite or close by. Sites may be a little more remote and include activities such as rock pooling, venturing deep into a forest or experiencing the remoteness of a moorland walk.

Enjoy nature by bike or on foot

Don’t forget that many of our walks or cycle rides offer fantastic opportunities to experience nature under your own steam. Find out about our cycling routes and our walks for more ideas on how to plan your stay.

Click on the map to explore the Nature Friendly network...

Funding

Our Nature friendly initiative has been developed as part of Destination Partnerships Moors and Dales, a partnership project to boost rural tourism across the four protected landscapes within North Yorkshire. Funding for this project has been secured from the Rural Development Programme for England, funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD): Europe investing in rural areas.