The Moors Centre North Yorkshire Tourist Information

With a wealth of information about the local area and some tantalising views across the Esk Valley, the Moors Centre is the perfect place from which to plan your exploration of North Yorkshire. Opened in 1976, by the North York Moors National Park, the centre now attracts around 150,000 visitors every year.

Address and Contact: The Moors Centre, Danby, Whitby, North Yorkshire. YO21 2NB. Telephone: +44 (0) 1439 772737

Before its life as an information centre, the building served as a hunting lodge on grounds owned by the Dawnay family. John Dawnay, the 1st Viscount of Downe, acquired the lands in the 15th century and later constructed this sandstone lodge to take advantage of the grouse shooting across the common moors. As a key part of the dynasty's estate, the building sits amongst elegant surroundings (including a beautiful wildflower garden) that blend seamlessly with the natural landscape.

Inside the centre, you'll find everything needed to whet your appetite for a meander across the moors or delve into the dales. The 'Living Landscape' exhibition offers a fascinating insight into the shaping of The Moors' geography throughout the ages, by both nature and by man. Human impact on The Moors can be traced back to Neolithic times, confirmed by the presence of ancient burial chambers and standing stones. Roman influence also remains, perhaps most prominently at Wade's Causeway, a long, straight road stretching over 25 miles from Malton to Whitby. However, many of North Yorkshire's most domineering monuments, e.g. the abbeys at Rievaulx and Whitby, date from the Middle Ages, and therefore their stories hold the majority of the shelf space in the museum. Special mention is also given to Yorkshire's considerable industrial heritage, particularly its role in mining its three primary natural resources: coal, iron and limestone. The countryside bookshop is a good place to pick up a souvenir or simply to brush up on your local knowledge; it also stocks maps of the area. Other amenities include bird watching facilities and a tearoom.

The resources aren't simply confined to the building's interior, however. Instead, expeditions across the immediate area form a large part of the learning process. Fortuitously, the vicinity is blessed with a selection of sights and a variety of terrain, meaning there's a wide selection of pre-planned walks to choose from. The Crow Wood Trail takes you to the nearby copse, where you'll ultimately be rewarded with a delightful glade complete with a picnic area. Alternatively, you can take a stroll along the banks of the River Esk, or cross the valley to the ruined Danby Castle, where Catherine Parr once resided before she was to wed Henry VIII. The pretty village of Danby is just over half a mile west from the Centre and is most proximate place to get a good old-fashioned pub lunch.

The Moors Centre is open daily from 10am to 5pm (April to October), 11am to 4pm (March) and from 11am to 4pm on weekends (November to February). Car parking is available and admission is free of charge.