North York Moors National Park

What North York Moors National Park does

The North York Moors National Park Authority is a statutory public body established under the Environment Act 1995, responsible for conserving and enhancing the natural beauty, wildlife, and cultural heritage of the North York Moors National Park in North Yorkshire, England. Designated in 1952, the Authority serves approximately 23,000 residents, 9.03 million annual visitors, 600+ tourism businesses, and farmers/landowners operating within the Park boundary. It is the sole body with planning authority across the Park, managing 1,408 miles of public rights of way, 700+ Scheduled Monuments, 3,000 listed buildings, and 42 Conservation Areas. Core functions include conservation, public access, environmental education, grant administration, planning enforcement, and tourism coordination.

The Authority operates a hybrid digital-physical platform: the official northyorkmoors.org.uk website and a 2026-launched mobile app (developed in partnership with Outdooractive) provide GPS navigation for 100+ curated walking and cycling routes. AI-powered habitat mapping is deployed across all 15 UK National Parks through a three-year Vodafone partnership, generating biodiversity and visitor impact data at scale. A Historic Environment Record interactive map provides public access to archaeological knowledge. Physical infrastructure comprises two National Park Centres at Danby Lodge and Sutton Bank (both marking their 50th anniversary in 2026), offering exhibitions, retail, and education facilities.

Revenue is sourced primarily from Defra (Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs), with FY 25/26 core revenue grant of £4.0m and capital grant of £1.5m. Additional streams include external grants (target £2.5m in 26/27 from National Lottery, FiPL, and other programmes), earned income from car parks, retail, and investments (£2.0m budgeted in 26/27), and S106 developer compensation payments (£4.2m projected in 26/27 from Woodsmith and Boulby mines). Grant programmes are disbursed to farmers, landowners, tourism businesses, and building owners for regenerative farming, woodland creation, heritage restoration, and tourism development. The Authority is governed by 20 Members and staffed by approximately 150 paid employees plus 700+ regular volunteers contributing the equivalent of nearly 40 full-time roles annually.

Name

North York Moors National Park

Legal name

North York Moors National Park Authority

Website

https://northyorkmoors.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1952

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

The North York Moors National Park Authority is a statutory UK public body conserving and enhancing a 1,408-mile National Park in North Yorkshire, serving 23,000 residents, 9 million annual visitors, 600+ tourism businesses, and local farmers through planning authority, grant programmes, education, and conservation.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

National Park Conservation and Visitor Services

NAICS

Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (71219), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (712190), Historical Sites (71212), Support Activities for Forestry (1153)

SIC

Non-Operating Establishments (9995), Forestry (800)

akta.pro primary industry

Parks, Recreation & Protected Areas Administration (BPAIAMAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

National Parks & Protected Area Visitor Services (Concessions, Guided Access) (THAAAAAH), National Park & Protected Area Tours (THAJAIAA), Forestry & Public Lands Administration (State/National Forests) (BPAIAMAF)

Keywords

• National park conservation
• Visitor services management
• Habitat restoration grants
• Outdoor recreation access
• Heritage landscape protection

Headquarters

HQ city

Helmsley

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Government Grant (Defra): Core revenue grant of £4.0m (25/26) plus core capital grant of £1.5m from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), constituting the majority of the Authority's funding.
2. External Funding and Grants: Direct awards and competitive applications to bodies such as the National Lottery, Farming in Protected Landscapes (FiPL), and other government programmes. Target of £2.5m spending via this funding in 26/27.
3. Earned Income: Income generated from Authority assets including car parks, retail at visitor centres, and investment returns on cash balances. Budgeted at £2.0m in 26/27.
4. S106 Agreements: Compensation and mitigation payments from major developments (Woodsmith and Boulby mines) to offset negative impacts within the National Park. Projected at £4.2m in 26/27.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

The North York Moors National Park Authority is a statutory public body that conserves and enhances the natural beauty, wildlife and cultural heritage of the North York Moors National Park. It provides free public access to 1,408+ miles of paths, runs visitor centres and educational programmes, administers statutory planning authority, and distributes grant funding to farmers, landowners, and tourism businesses for nature recovery, climate action, and heritage conservation.

Product overview

The North York Moors National Park Authority operates a digital platform centered on its official website (northyorkmoors.org.uk) and a mobile application developed in partnership with Outdooractive. The website serves as the primary gateway for visitor services, providing information on walking and cycling routes, National Park Centres, accessibility services, and trip planning tools. Supporting services include grant programmes (Farming in Protected Landscapes, Nature Recovery Hub, Grants and Advice), educational programmes (Outdoor Learning and School Visits), conservation initiatives (River Esk Connect, Ryevitalise, Blue Corridors, Forgotten Flora), and visitor support services. The mobile app offers navigation for over 100 curated walking and cycling routes with GPX download capability. Physical visitor infrastructure includes two National Park Centres at Danby Lodge and Sutton Bank.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• North York Moors Outdoors Mobile App Official free mobile app providing GPS-navigable walking and cycling routes across the North York Moors National Park, built in partnership with Outdooractive. Offers over 100 curated routes, GPX file downloads, and curated Points of Interest for visitors.
• North York Moors National Park Website Official website at northyorkmoors.org.uk providing visitor information, trip planning tools, booking capabilities, walking and cycling routes, events listings, conservation project information, grant application access, and tourism guidance for the National Park.
• Farming in Protected Landscapes (FiPL) Programme Defra-funded grant programme (July 2021 to March 2029) supporting farmers and land managers within the National Park with funding for regenerative farming, nature recovery, climate action and landscape enhancement. £1,414,977 paid out in Year 4 (2024/25).
• Nature Recovery Hub Online resource platform providing grants, tips, and practical advice for landowners, managers, community groups and businesses to create biodiverse landscapes and support nature recovery in and around the National Park.
• Grants and Advice Service Comprehensive grant programme supporting regenerative farming, woodland creation, river restoration, traditional boundary restoration, Listed Buildings at Risk, Conservation Area enhancement, and tourism business development. Includes outcome-based grants such as 50% of repair costs up to £10,000 for Grade II Listed Buildings at Risk.
• River Esk Connect (REConnect) Five-year community engagement project (September 2024 to September 2029) funded by The National Lottery Community Fund, focused on reconnecting people with the River Esk and surrounding landscape and inspiring climate action through volunteering and educational activities.
• Outdoor Learning and School Visits Educational programme offering curriculum-linked outdoor learning activities for schools from Early Years through A-Level, led by the qualified Outdoor Learning Team at Danby Lodge and Sutton Bank National Park Centres.
• National Park Centres (Danby Lodge and Sutton Bank) Two visitor centres at Danby Lodge and Sutton Bank providing exhibitions, interactive displays, gift shops, tea rooms, education facilities, and activity bookings. Danby Lodge hosts the Education and Outdoor Learning team within 7 hectares of grassland and woodland.
• Ryevitalise River restoration project focused on improving water quality and habitat connectivity along the River Rye catchment. Nominated for the UK River Prize for excellence in river restoration and water environment improvement.
• Blue Corridors Initiative focused on river restoration and creating connected aquatic habitats across the North York Moors National Park.
• Walking Routes and Trails Over 1,408 miles of walking paths including downloadable routes, Miles without Stiles accessible routes, the Cleveland Way National Trail, and the Coast to Coast path. Guided walk options are also offered.
• Cycling Routes Cycling network including the 150-mile Moor to Sea Cycle Network, 171-mile North York Moors Cycleway, family-friendly routes at Sutton Bank and Dalby Forest, and the Cinder Track with bike hire available.
• Accessibility Services Accessible experiences programme including Miles without Stiles routes, tramper hire, accessible viewpoints, accessible beaches, and accessible transport information to ensure the National Park is accessible to all visitors.
• Forgotten Flora Conservation Project Conservation project in partnership with the Howardian Hills Partnership to revive the black poplar tree (one of the UK's rarest native species) by propagating saplings from surviving trees in North Yorkshire for planting within two years.

Quantifiable outcome

• 9.03 million visitors annually generating £1.1 billion in visitor spend and supporting 11,407 FTE jobs (2024)
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Howardian Hills PartnershipminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 June 2026Howardian Hills Partnership collaborates with the North York Moors National Park on the Forgotten Flora conservation project to revive the black poplar tree, propagating saplings from surviving trees in North Yorkshire for planting within two years.
• Groundwork NE & CumbriacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2024Groundwork NE & Cumbria is a partner in the River Esk Connect (REConnect) community engagement project, contributing to educational programmes, volunteering opportunities, and sustainable tourism initiatives in the River Esk catchment area.
• Yorkshire Wildlife TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2024Yorkshire Wildlife Trust partners on the River Esk Connect (REConnect) project, delivering educational programmes, volunteering opportunities, and sustainable tourism initiatives. YWT also receives referrals for protected species and habitat concerns through the enforcement reporting process.
• Yorkshire Marine Nature PartnershipminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2024Yorkshire Marine Nature Partnership is a partner in the River Esk Connect (REConnect) project, contributing to the coastal streams element of the catchment work.
• Whitby, Scarborough & Ryedale DAGminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2024Whitby, Scarborough & Ryedale DAG plays a crucial role in ensuring the REConnect project's events and activities are as accessible as possible for a diverse range of people.
• York St. John UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2024York St. John University acts as internal evaluators for the REConnect project, ensuring it evolves over its five-year duration based on ongoing community feedback and input.
• Levy and RegenFutureCocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThrough the Living System Fund developed by Levy in partnership with RegenFutureCo, significant investment is directed into practical nature restoration across UK National Parks. In its first year, the fund supported seven projects including the North York Moors GrubsUp! project, extending pollinator habitat restoration into Bransdale and Farndale and strengthening wildlife corridors.
• Pearl & Dean (Wild Spaces)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerPearl & Dean partnership on Wild Spaces — a cinema campaign that funds nature restoration projects in National Parks. The 2026 campaign visits National Parks and meets community groups who connect with nature, featuring Sutton Bank National Park Centre and dark skies protection.
• Forest HolidayscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerForest Holidays supports 'National Park Futures' programme connecting over 20,000 young people with nature. In the North York Moors, Forest Holidays has funded the Young Ranger Scheme for 11-17 year olds, involving monthly practical conservation work and John Muir Award achievements.
• VodafonecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVodafone and National Parks Partnership uses AI technology to connect people with nature. A three-year partnership includes AI-powered habitat mapping across all 15 National Parks, transforming conservation by generating detailed biodiversity data at scale. Vodafone also provides real-time data on biodiversity, visitor impact, and habitat health.
• OutdooractivecoreTechnology or IntegrationThe official North York Moors Outdoors mobile app is developed in partnership with Outdooractive, which provides the digital platform for official National Park routes and Points of Interest with GPS navigation and GPX file downloads.

Scale indicators17 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Peak District National Park Authority: UK's first National Park (1951) operating under the same statutory framework, with comparable size, visitor profile, and farming-in-protected-landscapes programmes. Closest analogue for governance and funding structure.
• Cairngorms National Park Authority: Scotland's largest National Park operating under devolved Scottish Government authority but with comparable functions: conservation, visitor services, planning authority, and rural economy support. Strong peer for benchmarking on tourism and conservation funding.
• Exmoor National Park Authority: UK National Park peer with similar coastal-upland interface, comparable size (694 sq km), and identical statutory authority structure. Operates within same National Parks Partnerships ecosystem.
• South Downs National Park Authority: Largest UK National Park by area with comparable visitor volume (15m+ annually), statutory authority model, and similar partnership structure. Comparable scale for grant administration and tourism development.
• Northumberland National Park Authority: Northern England National Park peer with similar upland landscape, lower visitor volumes, comparable S106 exposure from rural developments, and identical Defra funding structure. Closest match for population density and rural economy dynamics.
• Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority: Direct UK National Park peer also in Yorkshire, sharing overlapping visitor geography, Defra funding model, statutory planning powers, and partnership ecosystem through National Parks Partnerships. Most directly comparable organization given regional overlap and similar upland landscape profile.
• Lake District National Park Authority: UK's largest National Park by visitor numbers and UNESCO World Heritage site. Operates under identical statutory framework (Environment Act 1995) with comparable grant programmes, visitor centre model, and partnership structure via National Parks Partnerships.
• Dartmoor National Park Authority: UK National Park with comparable size, moorland landscape, and heritage conservation challenges. Operates identical statutory framework with similar farming, conservation, and tourism programmes.

Broad incumbents

• National Trust: Largest conservation charity in the UK managing heritage properties, countryside, and coast. Comparable in mission (conservation, public access) but operates via charitable model rather than statutory authority; membership and earned income model differs. Overlaps in heritage site management and visitor experience delivery.

Emerging players

• Forestry England: Government agency managing public forests and woodland, including nearby Dalby Forest within the North York Moors. Overlaps in forest management, recreation provision, and conservation delivery but with a narrower woodland-focused mandate compared to NYM's full landscape authority.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses2 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/northyorkmoors
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@northyorkmoors
• Facebookfacebook.com/northyorkmoorsnationalpark
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/north-york-moors-national-park-authority
• Instagraminstagram.com/northyorkmoors

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about North York Moors National Park