Weekends & Short Breaks
North York Moors Midweek Walking Break: Coast & Countryside
Join Large Outdoors for a relaxed, fully guided, car-free walking break exploring the North York Moors. This three-night midweek trip offers a mix of moorland, coast, and characterful villages, with hotel accommodation in Pickering, varied walking each day, and a friendly small-group atmosphere. With a free collection from Malton Station and transport to all walks included, it’s an easy way to explore this distinctive corner of Yorkshire without needing a car.
Duration: 3 nights
Accommodation: Hotel
Transport: Car-Free Trip
Group Size: Maximum 8
Level: Leisurely
Pricing & Accommodation: From £345 per person. Shared rooms, single rooms, twin rooms, and double rooms available - see booking calendar for specific dates and pricing.
Booking Calendar…
Explore moorland, coastline, and characterful villages on a relaxed, car-free walking break based in Pickering.
This sociable midweek break is designed to showcase the variety of the North York Moors National Park. From sweeping moorland to coastal cliffs and small historic villages, each day offers something different while keeping the walking steady and enjoyable.
Our base is Pickering, a traditional market town known as the southern gateway to the North York Moors. With its castle, independent shops, and central location, Pickering is an ideal place to return to each evening after a day on the trails. The North Yorkshire Moors Railway, one of the UK’s best-known heritage railways, also runs from here, linking the area’s famous villages and adding to the sense of being surrounded by local history.
Across three full days, we explore the moors around Goathland and Grosmont, walk one of the most recognisable stretches of Yorkshire’s coastline between Staithes and Whitby, and finish with a steady loop around the dramatic Hole of Horcum. All local transport is included, making this a straightforward car-free adventure with a welcoming group feel and plenty of time to enjoy the scenery, stories, and places that define the North York Moors.
Suggested Itinerary
Here’s what we’ve got planned - of course, we may have to offer alternatives or make amendments if the weather misbehaves or other unexpected situations arise!
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Check in to the hotel in Pickering from 15:00.
For car-free travellers, we offer a free collection from Malton Station at 17:30. It’s a simple mainline connection, making this break easy to reach without driving.At 18:00, your Large Outdoors guide will meet the group in the hotel bar for a friendly welcome and a chat through the plans for the trip. We then head to a nearby pub for an informal dinner (meal not included), giving everyone time to settle in and get to know each other.
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Distance: 8–10 miles (13–16 km)
Rating: LeisurelyToday we explore the central moors, beginning in Goathland, a village with strong links to TV and film. Known to many as Aidensfield from the long-running series Heartbeat, it also features in the first Harry Potter film as the location for Hogsmeade Station. The village sits on open moorland with walking routes that offer wide views and a real sense of the North York Moors landscape.
Our route leads us towards Grosmont, a village shaped by the industrial heritage of the Esk Valley and home to the engine sheds of the North Yorkshire Moors Railway. Locomotives are often being serviced here, and the village has a relaxed feel with a couple of cafés that make it a good place to pause for a drink.
The walk offers a mix of moorland tracks, gentle gradients, and clear paths, making it ideal for a steady, sociable day out.
We then return to Pickering to freshen up before heading to a local pub for dinner (meal not included).
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Distance: 10 miles (16 km)
Rating: LeisurelyToday is all about the coast. We begin in Staithes, a traditional fishing village with narrow streets, stacked cottages, and strong links to Captain Cook, who worked here as a young apprentice. The harbour, cliffs, and old ginnels give Staithes its distinctive atmosphere.
From here, we walk south along a well-known stretch of the Cleveland Way, following clifftop paths with far-reaching sea views. Along the way, your guide will share stories of local shipwrecks, small-scale industry, and the fossil-rich geology that shapes this section of the coast.
Once we reach Whitby, there’s time to explore the town at your own pace. You may want to visit the harbour, browse the small shops, or climb the 199 steps to the Abbey ruins. We round off the day with fish and chips from one of Whitby’s famous chippies before returning to Pickering.
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Distance: 6–8 miles (10–13 km)
Rating: LeisurelyOn our final day, we head back to the moors to explore the Hole of Horcum, one of the most recognisable natural features in the North York Moors. This huge natural amphitheatre stretches over a mile across and is said in local legend to have been formed when the giant Wade scooped up a handful of earth during an argument. Geologists attribute it to ancient glacial and land-slip processes, but the view makes either explanation feel fitting.
Our loop takes in moorland edges, gentle gradients, and clear tracks, with time to pause at a pub partway round for a drink. It’s a steady finish to the trip and a great way to round off the variety of moors, coast, and villages explored throughout the week.
We then return to Pickering before offering a drop-off at Malton Station between 15:00–16:00 for onward train travel.
Essential Information
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Meeting Time: Check-in from 15:00.
The Large Outdoors host will meet you in the bar from 18:30.
Meeting Location:
Premier Inn,
40 Thornton Road,
Pickering
YO18 7HZParking: Parking is available at the hotel.
Train Station Collection: We will be offering a collection from Malton Station at 18:00. This can be booked during the checkout process or by contacting the Large Outdoors office This must be booked at least 48 hours in advance.
Finish Time: We aim to finish on the final day between 1pm and 3pm - the exact finish time may depend on the planned/chosen activity, group dynamic, weather conditions, whether the group chooses to grab a coffee or lunch together during/after, etc. If you’ve travelled via public transport, please ensure you book onward travel accordingly (i.e. an open return ticket), to allow for flexibility.
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We will be based from the Premier Inn in Pickering.
Accommodation Address:
Premier Inn,
40 Thornton Road,
Pickering
YO18 7HZRoom Types:
Single Rooms (en-suite bathroom) are for one participant and have a king-sized double bed.
Double Rooms (en-suite bathroom) sleep up to two participants booking together, in a king-sized Double bed. -
Included:
2 nights’ accommodation at the Premier Inn in Pickering.
Pickup and return from and back to Malton Train Station - see the Meeting Location & Time section above (optional).
Travel from the accommodation to activity start points and back, where they don’t start from the door.
A hearty cooked breakfast each morning, prepared by the accommodation.
A Large Outdoors host/guide to welcome you, deal with meal preparation and the logistics for your experience.
Guided walks on three days (Days 2 & 3) .
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 or train station collection.
Dinner on each evening - we’ll book a table at a local pub to enjoy dinner as a group and you can purchase whatever you fancy from the menu available.
Packed lunches - we will head to a local shop so you can purchase your own lunch prior to the walk.
Any extra (i.e. not mentioned above in ‘Included’) excursions or activities that you may partake in which incur a cost.
Alcoholic drinks - please feel free to bring something with you to enjoy at the accommodation. There are also a couple of pubs in the village for a post-walk pint or two!
Any food, drinks or goods you choose to purchase at any shops, restaurant, pubs or cafés visited.
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 Residential (Walking) Kit List.
The compulsory items are selected for your safety, which is of paramount importance to us at Large Outdoors. Each participant should have the items listed.
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What level of fitness is needed?
This trip is rated ‘Leisurely’. The longest walk will be around 15km at a sociable pace, and the landscape is very flat.Can I attend on my own?
Absolutely! In fact, the majority of our attendees are solo travellers.When should I arrive?
You are welcome to arrive from 5pm onwards on Friday evening. Dinner will be served at the accommodation at around 8pm. If you intend to arrive after 10pm, please let us know.I’d prefer vegetarian or vegan meals - can this be arranged?
Yes, absolutely! We will always supply a vegetarian or vegan meal, but please note this must be requested well ahead of the trip - the remote location of our accommodation means we can’t pop out to buy additional ingredients. Complete the dietary section during the booking process and if your dietary needs change ahead of the trip please email the office and we’ll update your booking.I’d prefer gluten-free meals - can this be arranged?
We will provide meals using gluten-free ingredients, but due to the shared nature of the kitchen we cannot provide strictly gluten-free meals. Please let us know you’d like gluten-free ingredients ahead of time by completing the dietary section during the booking process.I am allergic to a specific ingredient - can you provide meals for me?
Due to the shared nature of the kitchen we are unable to provide meals suitable for those suffering from many allergies. Please contact the office before booking to discuss your requirements.What transport is provided during this trip?
We do not provide transportation during this trip.Can I bring my dog?
Dogs are not allowed on this trip, except for registered assistance dogs.
Booking FAQ’s
Can I book with a deposit?
Yes, if the trip is more than 12 weeks away you can secure your place with a 20% deposit. The balance is due no later than 10 weeks before travel. You will receive a series of reminder emails when the balance is due. If the trip is less than 12 weeks away, the full balance is due at the time of booking.
Can I pay in instalments?
Yes – although our system doesn't have a function to do this automatically. If you'd like to split your payments, simply email us (hello@largeoutdoors.com) when you'd like to make a payment. Please don't forget to tell us how much you'd like to pay off the balance and your order number. We'll then send you an email with a secure online payment link.
Booking Calendar!
Walking in the North York Moors National Park
The North York Moors National Park is known for its mix of open moorland, quiet valleys, and small historic villages, making it a rewarding area for steady walking. Covering more than 550 square miles, the landscape brings together heather moors, wooded dales, old railway routes, and coastal paths, offering plenty of variety for anyone who enjoys exploring on foot.
Much of the moorland sits high and open, with clear views and well-used tracks that cross the plateaus. Below the moors, the dales provide a different feel, with sheltered woodland, farmland, and villages linked by straightforward footpaths. This contrast is one of the things that makes the area appealing, as no two days out feel the same.
The National Park is also shaped by history and industry. The North Yorkshire Moors Railway is one of the best-known heritage railways in the UK, and several of the villages have strong links to former mining or farming communities. Places such as Goathland, Grosmont, and Hutton-le-Hole offer a good sense of local character, with traditional buildings, small cafés, and easy access to walking routes.
Whether you’re following an old railway line, walking between moorland villages, or spending time along the coastline near Whitby and Staithes, the North York Moors offers straightforward walking through varied and distinctive landscapes. It’s an area that works well for relaxed, sociable days out with plenty to see along the way.
This map is provided for guidance regarding the general location. For detailed meeting information, please refer to the 'Meeting Time & Location' section.