Yorkshire Dales or North York Moors for hiking?

[User14955]

Hello, I am attending a wedding in Richmond near Darlington in September and will make a short holiday afterwards in either the north of the Yorkshire Dales (not near Malham Cove) or the North York moors. Can anyone advise which is better for hiking? We don't have children.

If it was any other time of year, I’d say the Dales, but since the heather will be in full bloom in September, I’d go for the Moors.
If you go the Moors you can find quite a few short (say ~5mile) walks that involve a fair bit of challenge and interesting landscapes. Lordstones Country park, Hole of Horcum, Cook’s Monument, Roseberry Topping, Rievaux Valley and probably my favourite bit is around Beck Hole where you can do some fun river valley scrambling. The longer walks in the Moors tend to be a bit featureless and potentially boggy.

Thank you so much that's really useful! I have seen Roseberry Topping so will check out the others

@Fivemoreminutes1 do you have any hike recommendations for the north of the dales that I can look up for comparison?

The Dales are more rugged - which I prefer.

Hawes to Sedbusk is a nice walk with good paths. We also like walking around Semerwater, and if you’re feeling ambitious I’m sure you could link the two.

I live between the Moors and the Dales and think 5moreminutes1 has got it spot on. I prefer the Dales and the countryside around Hawes is my favourite place on the planet. However it is most atmospheric in winter. Also the suggestion that you can fit in a few varied short walks in the moors is definitely true, and agree with some of the suggested walks. Mallyan Spout (probably en route for most Beck Hole walks?) and also Sutton Bank are good walks, the NYMNP website has some good suggestions.

Thank you so much 😊

@Fivemoreminutes1 @BumbleBee92 can you recommend a place to base ourselves in the North York moors? Have visited Staithes before and love it there and I know that's close but otherwise I don't know any other areas

It would depend on your priorities really. Pickering is fairly convenient if you want to be able to eat out in the evenings and access walks on the east and west fairly south. Personally I’ve always fancied a stay in one of the places in Dalby forest. Goathland has a few amenities and a hotel or two. If it’s all about the walking I’d just pin the routes on a map and work out where the middle is :) I’m not as familiar with the north of the moors so hopefully someone has some recommendations for up that way

The coast to coast walk and the Cleveland Way goes through the Moors, so if you want to hike some of that, then I’d base yourself around Grosmont or Glaisdale. You’d also be close to Beck Hole and not too far from Lord Stones.

OK cool we would want to be near the walls but ideally in a place with stuff going on in terms of restaurants. When in the Lakes we really like Ambleside.

*walks