Full Moon Walk in the North York Moors

Enjoy a magical full-moon walk with expert leaders from Large Outdoors 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, 4-mile guided walk at Sutton Bank in the North York Moors National Park.

Sutton Bank is a captivating location (home to one of the North York Moors National Park’s visitor centres) where visitors typically enjoy panoramic views from the dramatic escarpment during the daylight hours. At night, however, Sutton Bank becomes a Dark Sky Discovery Site – a proper night-sky paradise officially recognised for its low light pollution levels and apparent horizons.

You can meet your Large Outdoors guide at 6:45 pm. Be ready to start walking at 7 pm. 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 under the Good to Know section below.

Being relatively brighter than other more distant objects, full moons don’t make for incredible 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 surroundings 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 along good paths, covering approximately 4 miles. We aim to be back at Sutton Bank Visitor Centre by 10 pm.

Please note: This walk will go ahead whether it’s a clear, cloudy, wet, or dry night. Your Large Outdoors guide will lead you along the route for an enjoyable walk, even if the weather doesn’t look like it will play fair for gazing at the moon (there may well be breaks in the clouds along the way).