North York Moors

North York Moors National Park
IUCN category V (protected landscape/seascape)
North York Moors National Park
sign near Great Ayton
LocationNorth Yorkshire, England
Area554 sq mi (1,430 km2)
Established1952
Governing bodyNorth York Moors National Park Authority
Websitewww.northyorkmoors.org.uk

The North York Moors is an upland area in north-eastern Yorkshire, England. It contains one of the largest expanses of heather moorland in the United Kingdom. The area was designated as a National Park in 1952, through the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949. Covering an area of 554 sq mi (1,430 km2), the National Park has a population of 23,380.[1] It is administered by the North York Moors National Park Authority, which is based in Helmsley.[2] In 2025, a serious fire started on Langdale Moor and it was estimated that it could take over a decade for the heather to develop to the previous depth.[3]

  1. ^ "North York Moors National Park Facts and figures". North York Moors National Park Authority. Retrieved 28 August 2014.
  2. ^ "North York Moors National Park Authority". Retrieved 25 September 2020.
  3. ^ "North Yorkshire moorland could take centuries to recover from fires". www.bbc.com. 15 August 2025. Retrieved 18 August 2025.