With long days and warm weather, you can pack a lot in to a day out in the North York Moors.
Did you know, we're the driest upland area in the country? That means, whether you spend them inland or at the coast, there's plenty of opportunities to enjoy those sunny days.
Find out what wildlife is around right now with our nature calendar, full of tips, seasonal walks and ideas on the best places to spot birds, animals and wildflowers.
Top five summer experiences
1. Outdoor adventures
The North York Moors' doors are thrown wide open at this time of year for all sorts of outdoor adventures for all ages and abilities. Summer is the perfect time to try surfing, biking, sea kayaking, gliding, horse riding or go skimming through the treetops with Go Ape! and Tree Top Junior, perfect for little monkeys.
For those who prefer their feet firmly on the ground, then there's miles and miles of paths to choose from, 1,408 miles to be precise… but don't worry we've made it easy for you by pulling together a fantastic series of downloadable walks covering every corner of the National Park. It’s all here and ready for you to hit the trails.
2. Coastal fun
You'll find sandy beaches at Runswick Bay, between Sandsend and Whitby, Scarborough, Cayton Bay and Saltburn's seemingly endless beach, eight miles of golden sand in fact. But there's a lot of fun to be had on our rocky outcrops too. We're not known as the dinosaur coast for nothing... Fossil hunting and rock pooling at Robin Hood's Bay, or try beach combing, fishing, secret picnic spots, boat trips, rock hopping, the list is endless.
3. North York Moors' heather
In late summer, the heather flushes purple creating a truly magnificent sight, a bright pink and mauve carpet that stretches for miles. Unenclosed and unsurpassed, it's well worth a special trip at this time of year. Slow down and take the time to inhale its sweet smell. Lie in the sun and listen to the skylarks and sheep. You'll come across plenty of gorgeous stone-built moorland villages on your travels too, where wandering sheep roam freely on the village greens. Don't forget to pick up some heather honey from one of the many farm shops in the area.
Much of the moorland is Open Access land, which means you can enjoy miles of spectacular moorland on foot, without having to follow a defined path or track. This is a wonderful opportunity but as the moorland is home to wildlife and to sheep, it's important to act responsibly and observe any restrictions.
4. Glamping and camping
For fresh air, relaxation and experiencing some of the North York Moors' most spectacular views, it's hard to top a night under canvas. Not much beats the pleasure of sitting around a campfire on a clear-night with the silence broken only by the sounds of nocturnal wildlife, the waves on the sea or tinkling becks.
There's an ever expanding number of glamping sites, from camping pods to tipis, yurts, bell tents and vintage gypsy caravans. You'll find a good range of quality, independently run caravan and camping sites across the North York Moors including Caravan and Motorhome Club and The Camping and Caravanning Club sites, plus the Cleveland Way National Trail website has a good range of camping sites, just tick the camping box.
5. Festivals and outdoor events
From traditional agricultural, country and village shows to the hippest contemporary music and arts festivals, summer is a great time to visit the North York Moors. For a taster of what to expect, see this year's Major festivals and events.