Photo of the North York Moors, a National Park in North Yorkshire, northern England.

North York MoorsPhoto ANA TINCA / Pexels

Places to explore near Pickering

A market town on the southern edge of the North York Moors, Pickering keeps its Norman castle and a parish church lined with rare medieval wall paintings. The preserved steam railway runs north from the station through the wooded cleft of Newtondale towards Whitby, past the vast natural hollow of the Hole of Horcum and the moorland village of Levisham. West along the escarpment lie the great abbey ruin at Rievaulx and the castle at Helmsley, with the sudden view from Sutton Bank beyond.

97 places within 25 km — the standouts first, nearest first within each group. 3 are national icons.

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Worth the tripnational icons and local highlights within reach

Photo of the North York Moors, a National Park in North Yorkshire, northern England.

North York Moors

National Park near Rosedale Abbey

The largest heather moorland in England, purple in late summer, edged by a fine coast.

1.3 km NE

Photo of Thornton-le-Dale, a village in the North York Moors, North Yorkshire, northern England.

Thornton-le-Dale

Often called Yorkshire's prettiest village, centred on a beck, a market cross and the thatched, calendar-famous Beck Isle Cottage.

3.7 km E · North Yorkshire

Photo of Hole of Horcum, a Site of Special Scientific Interest near Levisham in the North York Moors, North Yorkshire, northern England.

Hole of Horcum

SSSI near Levisham

A vast natural amphitheatre gouged into the North York Moors, which legend says a giant scooped out to throw at his wife

9.1 km NE

Photo of Lastingham, a village in the North York Moors, North Yorkshire, northern England.

Lastingham

A quiet stone village below the moor whose Norman church keeps one of England's finest crypts, founded on a 7th-century monastery.

9.4 km NW · North Yorkshire

Photo of The Bridestones, a rock formation near Levisham in the North York Moors, North Yorkshire, northern England.

The Bridestones

Rock formation near Levisham

Weathered sandstone tors rising from heather moor and woodland above Dalby Forest.

10.4 km NE

Photo of Scampston Hall, a Grade II* registered house & garden near Thornton-le-Dale, North Yorkshire, northern England.

Scampston Hall

House & garden near Thornton-le-Dale

A walled garden replanted around 2000 to a Piet Oudolf design.

10.9 km SE

Photo of Hutton-le-Hole, a village in the North York Moors, North Yorkshire, northern England.

Hutton-le-Hole

A picture-postcard moorland village with a long winding green, a beck running through it and the Ryedale Folk Museum.

11 km NW · North Yorkshire

Photo of the Howardian Hills, a National Landscape in North Yorkshire, northern England.

Howardian Hills

National Landscape near Harome

Gentle farmed hills and old estates between the Vale of York and the moors, easy walking and a great house

11.4 km S

Photo of Farndale, a Site of Special Scientific Interest near Rosedale Abbey in the North York Moors, North Yorkshire, northern England.

Farndale

SSSI near Rosedale Abbey

Moorland valley of wild spring daffodils.

13 km NW

Photo of Rosedale Chimney Bank, a landmark near Rosedale Abbey in the North York Moors, North Yorkshire, northern England.

Rosedale Chimney Bank

Landmark near Rosedale Abbey

One of England's steepest roads climbing out of Rosedale past the ruined ironstone kilns.

13.5 km NW

Photo of Castle Howard, a Grade I registered house & garden near Malton in the Howardian Hills, North Yorkshire, northern England.

Castle Howard

House & garden near Malton

Baroque palace with dome, lakes and follies.

16.3 km SW

Photo of Farndale Daffodil Walk, a landmark in the North York Moors, North Yorkshire, northern England.

Farndale Daffodil Walk

Landmark near Farndale

A riverside path between Low Mill and Church Houses carpeted with wild daffodils each spring.

16.7 km NW

Photo of Farndale, a village in the North York Moors, North Yorkshire, northern England.

Farndale

A quiet dale of pasture and two hamlets, Low Mill and Church Houses, famous for its wild spring daffodils.

16.7 km NW · North Yorkshire

Photo of Mallyan Spout, a waterfall near Goathland in the North York Moors, North Yorkshire, northern England.

Mallyan Spout

Waterfall near Goathland

The tallest fall on the moors, a 70ft ribbon of water down a mossy ravine near Goathland.

17.1 km N

Photo of Goathland, a village in the North York Moors, North Yorkshire, northern England.

Goathland

A sprawling moor-edge village of sheep-cropped greens, famous as the 'Heartbeat' village and the Harry Potter station.

17.5 km N · North Yorkshire

Photo of Thomason Foss, a waterfall near Goathland in the North York Moors, North Yorkshire, northern England.

Thomason Foss

Waterfall near Goathland

A wooded cascade dropping into a dark pool on Eller Beck between Goathland and Beck Hole.

18.3 km N

Photo of Birch Hall Inn, a pub near Beck Hole in the North York Moors, North Yorkshire, northern England.

Birch Hall Inn

Pub near Beck Hole

Two minute snugs either side of a sweet shop in a North York Moors hamlet, local ale and homemade beer cake.

18.3 km N

Photo of Helmsley, a village in North Yorkshire, northern England.

Helmsley

The only market town inside the North York Moors, its stone square set below a ruined castle with the Cleveland Way and Rievaulx close at hand.

18.3 km W · North Yorkshire

Photo of Helmsley Castle, a ringwork in the North York Moors, North Yorkshire, northern England.

Helmsley Castle

Ringwork · Castle near Helmsley

Ruined castle above a handsome market town.

18.7 km W

Photo along the Cleveland Way, a 109-mile National Trail running from Helmsley to Filey Brigg, northern England.

Cleveland Way

Heather moor and high sea cliff in a horseshoe around the North York Moors.

18.7 km W · North Yorkshire

Photo along the Coast to Coast, a 190-mile National Trail running from St Bees to Robin Hood's Bay, England.

Coast to Coast

Wainwright's own invention: St Bees to Robin Hood's Bay through three national parks.

19.3 km NW · North Yorkshire & Cumbria

Photo of Wharram Percy Medieval Village, a landmark near Thixendale, North Yorkshire, northern England.

Wharram Percy Medieval Village

Landmark near Thixendale

Grassy house platforms and the roofless church of a village abandoned around 1500, in a steep Wolds valley dug by archaeologists for forty years.

20.5 km S

Photo of Falling Foss, a waterfall near Goathland in the North York Moors, North Yorkshire, northern England.

Falling Foss

Waterfall near Goathland

A thirty-foot fall in the woods of Little Beck near Whitby, with a tea garden at its lip and the Hermitage — a boulder hollowed into a cell in 1790 — up the path.

21.4 km NE

Photo of Ralph Cross, a landmark near Castleton in the North York Moors, North Yorkshire, northern England.

Ralph Cross

Landmark near Castleton

A lone medieval stone cross on the high moor watershed, adopted as the national park's emblem.

21.7 km NW

Photo of Rievaulx, a village in the North York Moors, North Yorkshire, northern England.

Rievaulx

A hamlet in the wooded Rye valley, built partly from its dissolved abbey and overlooked by Rievaulx Terrace.

22.1 km W · North Yorkshire

Photo of Rievaulx Abbey, a ruined abbey in the North York Moors, North Yorkshire, northern England.

Rievaulx Abbey

Abbey · Monastery near Rievaulx

Soaring Cistercian ruin in a wooded valley.

22.3 km W

Photo of Peasholm Park, a visitor attraction near Scarborough, North Yorkshire, northern England.

Peasholm Park

Attraction near Scarborough

An Edwardian oriental pleasure park in Scarborough, famous for boating and its naval warfare shows.

24 km E

Photo of Scarborough, a village in North Yorkshire, northern England.

Scarborough

Britain's original seaside resort, its two bays split by a headland castle, with spa, sands and Peasholm Park.

24.8 km E · North Yorkshire

Photo of Scarborough Spa, a landmark in North Yorkshire, northern England.

Scarborough Spa

Landmark near Scarborough

A grand cliffside spa complex on South Bay, built around mineral springs and now a concert venue.

24.9 km E

Photo: Ravenscar Cliffs, a viewpoint in the North York Moors, North Yorkshire, northern England.

Ravenscar Cliffs

Viewpoint near Ravenscar

A clifftop of dramatic sea views above the old Peak Alum Works, looking north to Robin Hood's Bay.

25 km NE

Also nearbygood places nearby, nearest first

Photo of St Hilda's Church, Ellerburn, a church near Thornton-le-Dale in the North York Moors, North Yorkshire, northern England.

St Hilda's Church, Ellerburn

Church near Thornton-le-Dale

A tiny Saxon-founded church in a wooded dale near Thornton-le-Dale, with carved stones and a beck alongside.

4.3 km E

Photo of Great Yorkshire Brewery, a brewery near Cropton in the North York Moors, North Yorkshire, northern England.

Great Yorkshire Brewery

Brewery near Cropton

A moorland village brewery at Cropton attached to the New Inn, brewing ales since the 1980s.

6.5 km NW

Photo of the River Derwent, a 72-mile river running from North York Moors to River Ouse at Barmby, northern England.

River Derwent

A slow Yorkshire river curving off the North York Moors round the Vale of Pickering to the Ouse.

7.3 km S · North Yorkshire & East Riding of Yorkshire

Photo of The Horseshoe Inn, a pub near Levisham in the North York Moors, North Yorkshire, northern England.

The Horseshoe Inn

Pub near Levisham

A 16th-century family-run inn on Levisham's green, a log-fire stop near the Hole of Horcum.

7.5 km NE

Levisham

A one-street village above a wooded gorge, its green ending at the Horseshoe Inn near the Hole of Horcum.

8.3 km N · North Yorkshire

Photo of The Blacksmiths Arms (Lastingham), a pub in the North York Moors, North Yorkshire, northern England.

The Blacksmiths Arms (Lastingham)

Pub near Lastingham

A refined dining pub facing Lastingham's Saxon-crypt church, known for some of the finest Sunday roasts on the moors.

9.4 km NW

Photo of St Mary's Church, Lastingham, a church in the North York Moors, North Yorkshire, northern England.

St Mary's Church, Lastingham

Church near Lastingham

A Norman church built over a rare vaulted crypt, on the site of a 7th-century monastery.

9.5 km NW

Photo of Bridestones, a country estate near Levisham in the North York Moors, North Yorkshire, northern England.

Bridestones

Country estate near Levisham

A National Trust place in North Yorkshire.

10.3 km NE

Photo of The Crown Inn (Hutton-le-Hole), a pub in the North York Moors, North Yorkshire, northern England.

The Crown Inn (Hutton-le-Hole)

Pub near Hutton-le-Hole

A cosy pub on the long green at Hutton-le-Hole, a favourite after a moorland walk.

11 km NW

Everything else within 25 km (58) — reserves, earthworks & places to check before travelling

St Mary's Priory Church, Old MaltonPriory11.5 km S
St Gregory's Minster, KirkdaleChurch12.2 km W
Yorkshire Wolds WayNational Trail13 km SE
Nunnington HallHouse & garden13.5 km W
The White Horse Farm InnPub13.6 km NW
Rosedale AbbeyVillage14 km NW
The Anvil InnPub14.5 km E
The Star Inn (Harome)Pub15.2 km W
HaromeVillage15.2 km W
Restaurant MýseRestaurant15.4 km SW
Beadlam Grange Farm ShopFarm & farm shop15.6 km W
Pickering CastleEarthworks of a former castle0.5 km N
Beacon Hill siege castleEarthworks of a former castleaccess unclear0.6 km NW
Newbridge QuarrySSSIaccess unclear1.1 km N
NewtondaleSSSI1.8 km N
Haugh and Gundale SlacksSSSI1.9 km N
Ellerburn BankSSSI5.3 km E
Ellers Wood and Sand DaleSSSI5.5 km E
Bull IngsSSSIaccess unclear5.9 km NW
Cropton Banks and Howlgate Head WoodsSSSIaccess unclear5.9 km NW
The PortergateRoman archaeological siteaccess unclear6.2 km N
NabgateSSSI6.4 km E
The New Inn (Cropton)Pub6.4 km NW
Green Lane PitSSSIaccess unclear6.6 km W
Seive Dale FenSSSI6.6 km NE
Cropton Hall GarthEarthworks of a former castleaccess unclear6.8 km NW
Golden Hill PitSSSIaccess unclear7.4 km W
Low CrossStanding stoneaccess unclear7.6 km NW
Cawthorn MoorSSSI7.8 km N
Flamborough Rigg Roman roadRoman archaeological siteaccess unclear8.5 km N
The Ings, AmotherbySSSIaccess unclear9.5 km SW
Ebberston HallHouse & gardenaccess unclear9.7 km E
Bride StonesSSSI9.7 km NE
Troutsdale and Rosekirk Dale FensSSSI10.5 km E
Fairy Call BeckSSSI10.6 km NW
KirkbymoorsideVillage10.6 km W
Yedingham PrioryPrioryaccess unclear10.7 km SE
Pickering Moor Roman roadRoman archaeological site11.4 km N
Blakey Topping standing stonesStone row11.9 km NE
Kirkdale CaveSSSIaccess unclear12 km W
Derventio BrigantumRoman archaeological siteaccess unclear12.3 km S
Malton CastleSite of a former castleaccess unclear12.4 km S
Wintringham MarshSSSIaccess unclear12.8 km SE
Slingsby CastleCastleaccess unclear13.7 km SW
Sleightholme DaleSSSIaccess unclear13.7 km W
Wheeldale Roman RoadRoman archaeological site14.1 km N
Castle Hill fortified houseCastleaccess unclear14.8 km E
East Heslerton BrowSSSI15 km SE
Wath QuarrySSSIaccess unclear15.2 km SW
The Pheasant HotelPub15.2 km W
Ruston Cottage PastureSSSIaccess unclear15.5 km E
Nunnington Cutting and QuarriesSSSIaccess unclear15.6 km W
Three DykesSSSIaccess unclear15.7 km S
Nine Spring DaleSSSI16 km SE
LadyhillsSSSIaccess unclear16.2 km SE
Beadlam Roman VillaRoman villaaccess unclear16.3 km W
Beck HoleSSSI16.3 km N
St Helen & All Saints Church, WykehamPrioryaccess unclear16.6 km E

Ordered by how far each place is worth travelling for, then by distance. Distances are straight-line to the nearest edge of each place — paths wind, of course.