Visit the Central North York Moors

The North York Moors cover a big area; so it’s impossible to experience all they have to offer in a weekend, or even during a week-long holiday.

So if you're making a visit to Rosella Cottage in Rosedale Abbey in the middle of the North York Moors, I recommend focusing your attention on a few places to give you a "sense of place" during your visit.

The North York Moors Around Rosedale area Walkers Paradise.

To simplify matters, I've split the North York Moors into four distinct areas according to the compass.

And this week I'll make four posts highlighting what's on offer to the North, South, East and West.

Yesterday (Monday 5th August 2013), I highlighted places worth visiting to the North of the National Park.

Today I'll talk about the area in the central Moors which is immediately on-hand around Rosedale Abbey.

Around here you'll find the high open moorland where the landscape is dominated by hazy purple heather, big skies and a strong sense of timelessness.

Purple Heather on Spaunton Moor Above Rosedale.

The high Moors still have a brooding sense of the ancient peoples' that have populated this landscape since time began. 

The many stone megaliths, standing stones, and Moorland crosses only add to this sense of ancient mystery.

You'll also discover spell binding views at every turn as you criss-cross from valley to valley on any of the five high moorland roadswhich head off out of Rosedale Abbey.

Young Ralph's Crossat Sunset.

You'll also discover little hidden valleys which seem to remain unchanged and hark back to earlier times.

Every little narrow valley road has a little bit of Shangri La at the end.

The central moorland paleau and valleys such as Rosedale, Farndale, Westerdale, Fryupdale, Kildale, Danbydale and Glaisedale are the least populated area of the Moors.

If you want to get away from it all, the high Moors around Rosedale is the place to be.   

But there are charming villages with picture postcard good looks and plenty of places to visit and eat scattered across the landscape here.

I'd start with Rosedale Abbey; and then make sure to visit Hutton-le-Hole, Castleton, Danby and the Moors Centre at Danby Lodge, Lealholme and Egton.  All are lovely and well worth a visit.