Photo: mattbuck (category), CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The North York Moors are a sweep of purple heather moorland, wooded dales and dramatic coastline, with the Cleveland Hills ridge running over Urra Moor, Cringle Moor and Carlton Moor. Danby, Lealholm and Glaisdale stations on the Esk Valley line make moorland hiking easy by train.
There are 25 stations within 5 miles of North York Moors National Park.
The park area is home to 95 DoBIH-listed peaks, the highest being Urra Moor - Round Hill at 455m.
National Trails pass through or near the park: Cleveland Way, Coast to Coast.
North York Moors train stations
Best for walkers first: gold, silver and bronze rate the hills, landscape and trails near each.
- KildaleSilver walking rating
- BattersbySilver walking rating
- Great AytonSilver walking rating
- Saltburn3.7 mi (about 4.5 to 5 mi on foot)Bronze walking rating
- Castleton MoorBronze walking rating
- CommondaleBronze walking rating
- Nunthorpe2.3 mi (about 3 mi on foot)Bronze walking rating
- Gypsy Lane2.9 mi (about 3.5 to 4 mi on foot)Bronze walking rating
- EgtonBronze walking rating
- GlaisdaleBronze walking rating
- GrosmontBronze walking rating
- Whitby0.7 mi (about 0.8 to 0.9 mi on foot)Bronze walking rating
- Scarborough1.8 mi (about 2 to 2.5 mi on foot)Bronze walking rating
- DanbyBronze walking rating
- Marske3.7 mi (about 4.5 to 5 mi on foot)Bronze walking rating
- Longbeck3.9 mi (about 4.5 to 5 mi on foot)Bronze walking rating
- Marton3.9 mi (about 4.5 to 5.5 mi on foot)Bronze walking rating
- LealholmBronze walking rating
- Ruswarp0.1 mi (about 0.1 mi on foot)Bronze walking rating
- Sleights0.1 mi (about 0.1 mi on foot)Bronze walking rating
- Seamer2.6 mi (about 3 to 3.5 mi on foot)Bronze walking rating
- James Cook4.5 mi (about 5.5 to 6 mi on foot)Bronze walking rating
- Northallerton4.6 mi (about 5.5 to 6 mi on foot)Bronze walking rating
- Thirsk4.8 mi (about 6 to 6.5 mi on foot)Bronze walking rating
- South Bank4.9 mi (about 6 to 6.5 mi on foot)Bronze walking rating
Walking distances are estimates from the straight-line distance and the type of ground, not a measured route. Check a map before you set off.
Onward bus services
Buses that reach further into North York Moors than the stations above. Check the days each one runs before you travel.
Moorsbus M6
From York station
Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays, 3 April–27 September 2026
Timetable: moorsbus.org ↗
Journey times from cities
How soon you can be at the nearest station serving North York Moors National Park from each city, counting stations just outside the boundary as well as inside it.
- York to ThirskFrom 20min
- Durham to NorthallertonFrom 31min
- Leeds to ThirskFrom 45min
- Newcastle to NorthallertonFrom 48min
- Sheffield to NorthallertonFrom 1hr 36min
- Edinburgh to NorthallertonFrom 2hr 14min
- Nottingham to NorthallertonFrom 2hr 16min
- Manchester to ThirskFrom 2hr 18min
- London to ThirskFrom 2hr 20min
- Liverpool to NorthallertonFrom 2hr 34min
- Preston to NorthallertonFrom 2hr 44min
- Lancaster to NorthallertonFrom 2hr 46min
- Leicester to ThirskFrom 2hr 46min
- Cambridge to ThirskFrom 2hr 47min
- Birmingham to NorthallertonFrom 2hr 54min
- Stirling to NorthallertonFrom 3hr 7min
- Glasgow to NorthallertonFrom 3hr 15min
- Norwich to NorthallertonFrom 3hr 33min
- Oxford to ThirskFrom 3hr 46min
- Dundee to NorthallertonFrom 3hr 53min
- Brighton to ThirskFrom 3hr 58min
- Bath to NorthallertonFrom 4hr 18min
Good to know
Can you get to the North York Moors by train?
Yes. 25 stations are within 5 miles of the North York Moors, including Battersby and Castleton Moor.
What is the nearest train station to the North York Moors?
10 stations with regular trains are inside the North York Moors, including Battersby, Castleton Moor and Commondale.
How long does it take to get to the North York Moors by train?
The North York Moors is 1hr 46min from Durham, 2hr from York, 2hr 1min from Newcastle and 3hr 58min from London by train, to the quickest station inside the park.
More of North York Moors
Photo: Mr R Jordan (Mr R Jordan), CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Photo: 4wd at English Wikipedia, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Photo: Wikimedia Commons contributor, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons