Yoga & Walking - North York Moors

Suggested Itinerary

Day 1

Let the relaxation begin... You are welcome to arrive any time from 5pm. The first yoga session of the weekend will be at 6:30pm, so please arrive at the hostel by 6pm if you wish to take part in this. Dinner will be served at 8pm - prepared by your Large Outdoors host. After dinner, whilst enjoying the cheese board, we’ll go over the plans for the next day, and then the evening is yours to relax on the sofas next the wood burning stove with a cup of tea, or perhaps head into town to sample the local pubs!

(Please note the Yoga venue is a short 5 minute walk from our hostel.)

Day 2

After an early morning yoga session and breakfast, we’ll grab our packed lunches and head out for the day’s walk - a wander around Rievaulx Moor walking right from the door of the hostel. We’ll begin by heading through the woodland of Ash Dale before steadily heading up to the fantastic viewpoint at the top of Helmsley Bank. Continuing along the top of the moor, we’ll be rewarded with a descent into further woodland and the quiet solitude of Rye Dale.

Walking past the ruins of Rievaulx Abbey, we’ll follow the Cleveland Way long-distance walking trail back to Helmsley. Once we’ve returned to the hostel there should be time to freshen up before the afternoon’s yoga session, followed by another home-cooked dinner prepared by your Large Outdoors host.

Day 3

After a final yoga session and breakfast, it’s time to pack up and leave the hostel. On this day we aim to head out for a morning walk of around 3 hours or so, finishing somewhere we can possibly get some lunch or a cuppa together before the weekend comes to an end. A popular option for today’s walk would be to drive a short distance south to the imposing manor house of Castle Howard. The grounds are an excellent place to walk, combining woodlands, rolling farmland, and striking views over the plains below. What’s more, they have a nice farm/gift shop and an excellent tea room with everything you’d ever need for lunch!

About the Area - North York Moors

The North York Moors National Park in the north-east of England is a stunning area of rolling heather-coated moors, deep valleys housing ancient monasteries, and acres of wildlife-rich woodland. Alongside these famous moors, there’s a spectacular coastline, where it’s still possible to find dinosaur fossils, and where stories of smugglers are never far away from timeless fishing villages.

The moors themselves offer wide-ranging views over the plains and valleys below, and are extremely accessible even for beginner walkers. This means that regardless of your ability, you are pretty much guaranteed an amazing view in the North York Moors. Alongside walking, there are market towns to explore, the steam railway to admire, and dozens of fantastic cafes and pubs to sample.

Good to know:

Our accommodation:

Helmsley YHA is a comfortable hostel a short walk from the town centre. There's plenty of room for everyone to sit around, comfortable sofas, and a wood fuel stove. We rent the hostel exclusively for the weekend so it's all yours.