UPDATED JULY 2023! The second half of August is one of the best times to visit Yorkshire, this beautiful region in the North of England that I’ve been lucky enough to call home for over 6 years. Heather blooms around the moors, covering the landscapes in a blanket of purple as far as the eye can see. This is my favorite time of year here, and I make it my mission to try to see the best of the area’s heather when it blooms! It’s something you can’t miss, so here are the best places to see heather in Yorkshire.

Hole of Horcum (Fylingdales Moor)

My favorite place and my favorite walk in all of Yorkshire: the Hole of Horcum. The Hole of Horcum, along with nearby Fylingdales Moor, is one of the most spectacular places to see the heather in bloom in August. As you drive over the A169 road and venture into the heart of the North York Moors National Park, you’ll catch a view of purple blanketing the moors as far as the eye can see. The walk around the Hole of Horcum will take about 2-3 hours. There are several viewpoints further north that give phenomenal views of the heather, too. If you want to see the heather in bloom in Yorkshire, this should be your first stop.

Read More: Hiking the Hole of Horucm in the North York Moors

Ilkley Moor

Famous due to the “On Ilkla Moor Baht ‘at” song (the so-called county anthem of Yorkshire), Ilkley Moor is a beautiful place for a wander when the heather is in bloom. You can start at the Cow and Calf rock formations, then walk over the moor to the Twelve Apostles Stone Circle. The heather here is just stunning.

Norland Moor

In West Yorkshire, Norland Moor is a smaller, quiet moor near Sowerby Bridge outside Halifax. But it’s absolutely spectacular come August, when the heather paints the moors purple. I loved Norland Moor, and it’s by far one of my best heather discoveries of this year! It’s easy to stroll along the paths between the heather, and it is definitely one of the best places to see the heather in bloom in Yorkshire. Note that there is only a very small (free) car park here.

Cockshaw Hill (Roseberry Topping)

While there are some great places to see heather around Roseberry Topping, I think the view from Cockshaw Hill, on the way up to Captain Cook’s Monument, might just be the best. You can just about frame the summit of Roseberry Topping with the purple heather on all sides. Come in the evening for the best lighting. There’s free parking at Gribdale Gate.

Read More: Hiking Roseberry Topping and Newton Moor

Marsden Moor (Wessenden Moor)

The heather blooms all over various places around the Marsden Moor estate, but I think the best part is Wessenden Moor. I did a fantastic, circular, 10-mile walk around Standedge. The heather in Wessenden Valley and on Wessenden Moor was phenomenal. If you don’t want to do the full walk, you can just walk here from Marsden along the Kirklees Way.

Rosedale

I made it my mission to see the Millennium Cross on Rosedale this year with the heather in bloom. And it did not disappoint! Head out of Rosedale Abbey on the road up Heygate Bank (towards Egton Bridge) and you’ll see purple heather covering the moor. There are some other nice areas around Rosedale where you can see the heather (like at Chimney Bank). But I think the moor by the Millennium Cross is by far the most beautiful.

Read More: Hiking Around Rosedale in the North York Moors

Danby Beacon

You’ll find Danby Beacon high up on the moors in Fryupdale, with spectacular views over the countryside and out to sea. There’s also beautiful heather in bloom here in August. While you can drive up to Danby Beacon, I recommend doing the walk from Danby to Lealholm, and exploring both villages!

Burbage Moor

Just within the Yorkshire border close to Derbyshire, Burbage Moor is in South Yorkshire in the Peak District. It’s another spectacular place to see heather in bloom. The countryside is carpeted in purple as far as the eye can see, with loads of different walks to choose from. Walk along Burbage Edge to Higger Tor and Owler Tor, or do a longer walk like this 8-mile route from Burbage to Padley Gorge.

Grinton Moor

Swaledale in the Yorkshire Dales National Park is pretty all year-round, but it’s home to some beautiful pops of purple color when the heather blooms in August. One of my favorites is Grinton Moor – take the road from Grinton to Leyburn (Whipperdale Bank) and you’ll see the landscape covered in purple hues.

Ravenscar (Howdale Moor)

There’s so many places to see the heather in the North York Moors, but one of the quietest places is around Ravenscar, mainly Howdale Moor. The heather covers the countryside here – you’ll see purple for what seems like miles! You can easily add this area as an extension between the popular Ravenscar-Robin Hood’s Bay loop. I just caught the tail-end of this heather (the second weekend in September). But I can only imagine that a few weeks earlier the colors would have been much more vibrant!

Hawnby Hill

Hawnby Hill looms over the small village of Hawnby and over Hawnby Moor. This is one of the best places to see heather in Yorkshire – the purple flower blankets the countryside for miles. There is space for parking on your way out of the village, if you’re wanting to hike up Hawnby Hill from Hawnby. There is also a small car park at Moor Gate (on the road out of the village). I definitely recommend walking up the hill though – and add in nearby Easterside Hill for more heather spotting!

Read More: The Best Hikes in the North York Moors

Fremington Edge

Overlooking the beautiful village of Reeth in Swaledale, Fremington Edge has spectacular heather that blooms at the end of the summer. Once you’ve hiked up to the ridgeline, you’ll be treated to bright patches of purple heather. Best of all, you’ll have an incredible view of the heather that covers the rest of Swaledale from here, like Calver Hill and Gibbon Hill. This is a top spot for seeing heather in Yorkshire.

Read More: The Prettiest Villages in Swaledale

Urra Moor

This is the highest moor in the North York Moors National Park – and like so many parts of this beautiful area, it’s a top place to see heather bloom at the end of summer. Although it was a wet and rainy day when I went here, the heather was still gorgeous. You can hike up here from the village of Chop Gate, or there’s a longer loop you can do that takes in the Wainstones, too.

Read More: North York Moors Hikes: Chop Gate to the Wainstones

Planning Your Trip

I’ve visited all of these places as a daytrip from where I live in York. While you’ll need a car to get around, York is easily accessible by train and some of these places are accessible by public transport. I use Trainline to book my tickets in advance. If you’re flying in, Leeds Bradford and Manchester airports and most convenient – I book flights on Skyscanner. You can book hostels here, or hotels and B&Bs here. Considering travel insurance for your trip? World Nomads offers coverage for more than 150 adventure activities as well as emergency medical, lost luggage, trip cancellation and more. You can easily visit these places from wherever you are in Yorkshire though!

Booking.com

If you’re planning on going out on a hike to see the heather, check out my outdoor gear guide on what to bring! I always recommend having sturdy footwear (I love my Scarpa Mistral hiking boots), a rain jacket, layers, and plenty of snacks and water.

Yorkshire is one of the top places to see heather in bloom towards the end of August in the UK. It’s one of my favorite parts about living here, and I feel so grateful that I’ve gotten to see the countryside put on such a spectacular display of color for so many years. If you’re wanting to discover the best spots to see heather in Yorkshire, I hope this post helps planning your trip!

Have you been to see the heather in bloom in Yorkshire? Where are your favorite spots and which places have I missed?!

You might also like my posts:

The Ultimate Yorkshire Guide: 99 Incredible Places to Visit in Yorkshire

The BEST Places to Visit in the Yorkshire Dales

21 of the BEST Places to Visit in the North York Moors

The Best Walks in Yorkshire

The Best Abbeys in Yorkshire, England

Quintessential Yorkshire: The Best 4 Daytrips From York

The Best Views in Yorkshire

My Outdoor Gear Guide for Hiking and Camping in the UK

All of my Yorkshire posts!

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