Full Moon Walk - North York Moors
Walk with us under a full moon at Sutton Bank, to celebrate the dark skies above the North York Moors National Park.
Experience Type: Day Experience
Distance: Up to approx. 4.7 miles (7.5km)
Duration: 3 hours
Level: Leisurely
Age: 10+ (under 18s must be accompanied by parent/guardian throughout)
Dogs: No dogs, except trained assistance dogs
In a Nutshell:
Gaze up at the night’s sky during the full moon from one of the best spots in this International Dark Sky Reserve.
Walk led by a Large Outdoors guide, with a group of fellow star chasers.
Keep an eye and ear out for nocturnal wildlife along your way!
Please note: This walk will go ahead whether it’s a clear or cloudy night and whether it’s wet or dry. Your Large Outdoors guide will lead you along the route for an enjoyable walk ,even if the weather doesn’t look like it’s going to play fair for gazing at the moon (there may well be breaks in the clouds along the way).
How do we grade our walks?
Enjoy a magical full-moon walk at Sutton Bank in the North York Moors National Park…
Usually a firm favourite of Large Outdoors’ Dark Skies Festival events, join us for a moonlit guided walk at Sutton Bank in the North York Moors National Park, where we’ll walk up to 4.6 miles (7.5km) - the distance covered depending on the time we spend gazing above and discussing the night sky.
Sutton Bank is a captivating location (home to one of he North York Moors National Park’s visitor centres) where visitors normally enjoy panoramic views out from the dramatic escarpment during the daylight hours. At night, however, Sutton Bank becomes a Dark Sky Discovery Site - a proper night-sky paradise and officially recognised for its low light pollution levels and clear horizons.
Suggested Itinerary
You can meet your Large Outdoors guide at 6:45pm, ready to start walking at 7pm. You’ll need to be suitably kitted out to walk and explore at night, which includes a head torch - please see the Compulsory Kit List section below.
Being rather brighter than other more distant objects, full moons don’t make for great stargazing, so we’re letting the moon itself take centre-stage tonight. We’ll enjoy the exceptionally bright lunar spectacle (weather permitting!) as it lights our surrounds along the ridge.
As we walk along your senses will become more attuned to their surroundings and there’s a chance you’ll be able to pick up the sights and sounds of wildlife such as owls and foxes going about their nocturnal lives.
Our route will be a gentle there-and-back and we aim to be back to our meeting location by 10pm.
Dark Skies - Stargazing
This experience forms a part of the Large Outdoors Dark Skies & Stargazing collection. Join us for an array of night-time adventures, from weekend getaways to night walks and stargazing experiences.
Good to Know
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Meeting Time: Please meet your guide at 6:45pm (to start walking at 7pm).
Meeting Location:
Car Park at Sutton Bank National Park Centre - we’ll meet you by the bus stop, outside the centre.
Sutton Bank
Thirsk
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Parking: The meeting location is a large pay-and-display car park. You can pay by card, or using the PayByPhone app (we recommend downloading the app before your visit as mobile coverage can be limited).
Public Transport: Unfortunately, the meeting location and timings for this Large Outdoors experience mean it is not accessible via public transport.
Finish Time: We aim to finish around 10pm.
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Included:
• A Large Outdoors guide to lead you on your Full Moon Walk in the North York Moors.
• The chance to make new friends and meet like-minded people - Large Outdoors is all about making outdoor adventures sociable.
• Pre-event support from the Large Outdoors team - give us a shout if there’s any advice or information you need and check out our Blog for useful articles too.
Not included:
• Travel to and from the meeting location.
• Travel/activity insurance - we recommend having insurance to cover, at a minimum: cancellation and curtailment; medical and emergency expenses (including repatriation); personal accident; injury and death.
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Please see our General (Walking) Kit List.
The compulsory items are selected for your safety, which is of paramount importance to us at Large Outdoors. Each participant should be carrying the items listed.
DON’T FORGET: To bring your head torch - you will not be allowed to start the walk if you don’t have a working head torch with you. We insist on a head torch for your safety - a handheld torch or the torch on your phone is NOT suitable.
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• Will the experience be cancelled if it’s cloudy or raining?
No - your guide will lead you along the route for an enjoyable walk even if the weather doesn’t look like it’s going to play fair for gazing at the moon (there may well be breaks in the clouds along the way).• What level of fitness is needed?
This experience is graded as Leisurely. Click here to see Large Outdoors’ Experience Levels.• Can I attend on my own?
Absolutely. The majority of our participants are solo travellers and adventurers. Plenty of fun, laughter and numerous long-term friendships (and a few marriages!) have begun on Large Outdoors experiences since 2008, so there’s no need to feel worried about your first experience, or indeed trying a new type of outdoor activity, with us.• Can I bring my dog?
Dogs are not allowed on this experience, except for trained assistance dogs. If you wish to bring your trained assistance dog, please let us know in advance of booking so we can discuss the activity and any additional safety requirements or considerations that may be necessary.
Book your Full Moon Walk - North York Moors
This map is provided for guidance regarding the general location. For detailed meeting information, please refer to the 'Meeting Time & Location' section.