Our relationship with the great outdoors has come back into sharp focus in recent years, and the benefits for mental and physical wellbeing are well documented.

Amid increasingly busy lives, the vast open spaces of our National Parks remain as vital as ever as places to unwind and roam with friends, family and alone; and what became Britain’s sixth National Park is this year celebrating its platinum anniversary.

Designated as a National Park on 28 November 1952, The North York Moors is famous for its large expanse of heather moorland. Lying in the north-east of Yorkshire, it bridges the gap between the arable lands of the Vale of York to the south-west and the coast on the eastern side.

Extending to around 354,800 acres, there is an incredibly diverse landscape comprising forest and woodland, landforms dating back to the Ice Age, and a mix of moorland, upland, lowland and coastal habitats. With a rich history of farming within the park’s boundary, the land itself has a large population of estates with in-hand and tenanted farms as well as common land and a patchwork of owner-occupier farms.

In what has become a honeypot holiday location, with tourists attracted by the tranquil surrounds of the countryside and being within striking distance of the seaside from Scarborough to Redcar, the North York Moors has long held agriculture and mineral extraction at the cornerstone of its rural economy – formed and maintained by generations of farmers. The connection remains very close with the potash mines at Boulby and Woodsmith providing fertiliser essential for sustainable food production over a much larger area.

The network of walks – such as the Cleveland Way, Lyke Wake Walk and White Rose Way – has helped fuel tourism which, in turn, has resulted in a sustained demand from those aspiring to live in the villages close to, or within, the park. Recent increased flexibility in working practices has made it possible for more people to consider moving here. There are challenges, however, over the provision of affordable and available housing for those working in the National Park itself while retaining the special nature of the surroundings.

While much has changed since it was awarded National Park status, the North York Moors is still as cherished as it ever was. And while there is a premium for homes within a National Park, for many it's a small price to pay for the chance to become a custodian of such natural beauty as well as to feel the benefits of living in a protected landscape.

Here are some of the best homes currently available within the North York Moors. 

Further information

Contact Matthew Watson 

Savills Rural