If you fancy exploring the North York Moors without the faff of driving or parking, there’s a brilliant way to do it this summer — and it leaves straight from Hull.
(See how to enter below.)
The Moorsbus M1 service is now running every Sunday and Bank Holiday until 28 September 2025, with comfy East Yorkshire double-deckers setting off from Hull Paragon Interchange and heading right into the heart of the countryside. We gave it a go last weekend – and honestly, it turned out to be one of the best family days out we’ve had in ages.
We boarded the M1 at 9am from Hull, with stops in Cottingham (9:21), Beverley (9:43), Driffield (10:11), and Malton (10:49) before arriving in Pickering at 11:12am. The bus was spacious with tables, Wi-Fi and wireless charging, and the top-deck views were lovely even before we hit the moors.
Pickering itself is a lovely little stop-off — there’s Pickering Castle, the North York Moors heritage steam railway, and Beck Isle Museum, plus a great choice of cafés if you fancy a relaxed start to your day.
But we carried on. At 11:45, we hopped on the M3 service out to Kirkbymoorside, Hutton-le-Hole, and Danby Lodge, with incredible moorland views along the way — rolling hills, purple heather, and sheep grazing right up to the roadside. The kids were glued to the windows the whole time.
In Danby, we started at the Danby Den adventure playground, with rope bridges, nest towers, zip lines and a pretend ranger van to climb on. Then we walked the Crow Woods trail, which is fully wheelchair and pushchair accessible. You’ll find beautiful wooden sculptures, cloud-watching pillars, and even a huge wooden dragon hidden in the woods — not to mention stunning views across the valley and out to Danby Castle.
We had lunch at The Truffled Hog, then popped into the North York Moors National Park Centre — completely free to enter and packed with interactive exhibits, from indoor cave walls and a mining zone to live bird cams.
We caught the M3 back to Pickering at 3:45pm, then the M1 at 5:15pm, arriving back in Hull just after 7:30pm. No stress, loads to do, and a proper adventure for the kids.
Want to plan your own day out?
We’ve got all the route info, pick-up points, times and fares listed here:
👉 Full Moorsbus details & Sunday schedule
🎟️ Win a FREE Family Ticket
We’re giving away a Moors Rover family pass – that’s 2 adult and 2 child tickets – so you can try the Moorsbus for yourself this summer.
It’s a flexible ticket that lets you explore the whole Moorsbus network across the day – whether you want to walk the trails, visit Pickering’s attractions, or just enjoy the ride.
How to WIN
Use your name and email below to start your entry (we will use these to contact you if you win!). Increase your chances by joining the email newsletter, following their social media profiles, or sharing the competition on your socials. Each action earns you an additional entry into the competition.
You earn more entries for each thing you do, giving you a better chance of winning!
The full terms and conditions of this competition are below.
Competition Terms & Conditions
- The Prize
One winner will receive a Moors Rover Family Ticket, valid for 2 adults and 2 children. This ticket allows unlimited travel on the Moorsbus network for one day, including both the M1 and M3 services. - How to Enter
To enter, simply submit your name and email address. These details will only be used to contact you if you win. This competition is promoted by Hull Active Travel, who are providing the prize. - Entry Deadline
The competition closes at 11:59pm on Saturday 19 July 2025. Entries received after this time will not be counted. - Eligibility
Open to UK residents aged 18 or over. Employees of Hull What’s On, Hull Active Travel, or Moorsbus CIC are not eligible to enter. - Winner Selection
One winner will be chosen at random from all valid entries and contacted by email within 48 hours of the competition closing. The winner must respond within 5 days to claim their prize, or a new winner may be selected. - Prize Validity
The prize must be used during the 2025 Moorsbus season, which ends on Sunday 28 September 2025. The prize cannot be exchanged for cash or used in conjunction with any other offer, promotion, or discount. - Data Protection
By entering this competition, you agree that Hull What’s On may share your email address with Hull Active Travel, the prize provider, for the purpose of contacting you about this competition. By entering, you also agree to be subscribed to Hull Active Travel’s email newsletter, which you can unsubscribe from at any time. Your data will not be shared with any other third parties. - General
The promoter reserves the right to amend, withdraw, or cancel the competition or its terms at any time and without prior notice.
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