North York Moors

North York Moors
Protected Area
North York Moors National Park sign near Great Ayton
Country	United Kingdom
Part	England
County	North Yorkshire
Highest point	Urra Moor
- elevation	1,490 ft (454 m)
Area	554 sq mi (1,435 km2)
National Park of England	1952
Management	North York Moors National Park Authority
IUCN category	V - Protected Landscape/Seascape
The North York Moors from space
Website: http://www.northyorkmoors.org.uk/

The North York Moors is a national park in North Yorkshire, England, containing one of the largest expanses of heather moorland in the United Kingdom. It covers an area of 554 sq mi (1,430 km²), and has a population of 23,380. The North York Moors became a National Park in 1952, through the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act of 1949.

To the east the area is clearly defined by the impressive cliffs of the North Sea coast. The northern and western boundaries are defined by the steep scarp slopes of the Cleveland Hills edging the Tees lowlands and the Hambleton Hills above the Vale of Mowbray. To the south lies the broken line of the Tabular Hills and the Vale of Pickering.

Four roads cross the moors from north to south. In the east the A171 joins Whitby and Scarborough. Further inland, the A169 runs between Pickering and Whitby. More centrally, a minor road departs from the A170 at Keldholme and passes through Castleton before joining the A171 which connects Whitby and Guisborough. The most westerly route is the B1257 connecting Helmsley to Stokesley. The A170 from Thirsk to Scarborough marks the southern boundary of the moors area.