The countryside is a great place to take your dog for a walk and the North York Moors is a fantastic place to explore and experience.
Please take care if you go walking in the nesting season April – end of July.
Dogs are naturally inquisitive and may mean no harm, but ground-nesting birds are easily scared and will fly away until the perceived threat has passed. This risks their eggs getting cold and not hatching or leaves the eggs or young at risk from predators. Also, a loose dog can frighten pregnant ewes and cause them to abort their lambs
Here are a few walks available in the area
Countryside Dog Walks
- Lingmoor from Hutton-le-Hole – 3.5 mile/5.6 km
A 3.5 mile (5.6km) walk over farmland – mostly gentle gradients, but with a short steep descent back to Hutton-le-Hole. - Blansby Park from Pickering – 5 mile/8 km
- Scotch Corner from Sutton Bank – 5 mile/8 km
A 5 mile (8km) walk over tracks and quiet lanes. - Kilburn Woods from Sutton Bank – 6 mile/9.6 km
A 6 mile (9.6 km) walk through mixed woodland. - 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
A 9 mile (14.5km) walk over farmland and quiet lanes, finishing on a path along a scarp edge – with spectacular views.
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
A 2.5 mile (4km) walk along either the cliff top path or the beach and returning via a disused railway line. - 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
A 6 mile (9.6km) walk along the cliff top path and returning via a disused railway line.
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
A 3.1 km (2 miles) walk through mixed woodland to see the spectacular Falling Foss waterfall. There are some uphill/downhill sections, although the gradients are generally easy to moderate. Most of the walk is on woodland paths which are occasionally uneven and stony and may be muddy or wet. - Dalby Forest/Bickley Gate: Deep Dale – 2 miles/3.3 km or 4.8 miles/7.8 km
A walk through conifer plantations and mixed woodland. The main route is 3.3 km (2 miles) and there is an optional extra loop to extend the walk to 7.8 km (4.8 miles). - May Beck and Newton House Plantation – 2.5 miles/4 km
A 4 km (2.5 miles) walk through conifer plantation and mixed woodland. There are some uphill/downhill sections, although the gradients are relatively easy to moderate. - Clay Bank and Greenhow Plantation – 3 miles/5 km
- Dalby Forest/Bickley Gate: Jerry Noddle – 3.5 miles/5.7 km
A 5.7 km (3.5 mile) walk through conifer plantations on level tracks and paths. - Clay Bank and Broughton Plantation – 3.5 miles/5.5 km
- Levisham Station and Newtondale: Raindale – 3.5 miles/5.7 km
A 5.7 km (3.5 mile) walk on quiet lanes, forest tracks and paths. There are several ascents and descents, which are steep in places. - Cropton Forest: Spiers House and Sutherland Road – 4.1 miles/6.6 km
- Silton Forest – 4.2 miles/6.75 km
A 6.75 km (4.2 mile) walk through conifer plantation, some of which has been recently felled. There is an alternative extended route which takes the total length to 7.5 km (4.6 miles). - Levisham Station and Newtondale: Heads Road – 4.75 miles/7.6 km
A 7.6 km (4.75 mile) walk on forest tracks and paths. There are several ascents and descents, which are steep in places. - 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
A 9.8 km (6 mile) walk on quiet lanes, forest tracks and paths. There are several ascents and descents, which are steep in places. - Cockmoor Hall and Dalby Forest – 6 miles/9.6km
Moorland
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.
Information on moorland dog welcome areas can be downloaded below:
The North York Moors NPA have produced a leaflet offering advice and assistance if you are exercising your dog in the area
Click here to download a copy of the Walking with Dogs Leaflet