Whitby, Robin Hood's Bay, Goathland, Hutton-le-Hole and the Sutton Bank car park all fill by mid-morning on a sunny bank holiday. Farndale in daffodil season and Runswick Bay in August are the same.
Where it stays quiet
Bransdale and the road round its head; Hawnby and the upper Rye; the Esk Valley villages by train; the moor-top lay-bys on Blakey Ridge and the Rosedale road; Kildale and the northern moor edge; Bilsdale. Kirkdale and Lastingham take far fewer visitors than their neighbours.
Beat the crowds
Arrive before ten or after three. Use the Moorsbus, which runs on every bank holiday. Walk from the village you are staying in rather than driving to another. Try the steam railway's first and last trains of the day.
August bank holiday
Farndale Show on the Monday, Whitby Folk Week all week, and heather at its peak across the whole moor.
Pubs stop serving food earlier than you expect on bank holidays; eat early or book
The A169 over the moor to Whitby queues at Sleights on a bank holiday afternoon
