Danby Lodge National Park Centre - Whitby

Address: Lodge Ln, Whitby YO21 2NB, United Kingdom.
Phone: 1439772737.
Website: northyorkmoors.org.uk
Specialties: Visitor center, Art gallery, Gift shop, Hiking area, National park, Tea house, Tourist attraction, Tourist information center.
Other points of interest: Onsite services, Online appointments, Wheelchair accessible entrance, Wheelchair accessible parking lot, Good for kids.
Opinions: This company has 1004 reviews on Google My Business.
Average opinion: 4.6/5.

📌 Location of Danby Lodge National Park Centre

☎️1439772737

⏰ Open Hours of Danby Lodge National Park Centre

Monday: 10 AM–5 PM
Tuesday: 10 AM–5 PM
Wednesday: 10 AM–5 PM
Thursday: 10 AM–5 PM
Friday: 10 AM–5 PM
Saturday: 10 AM–5 PM
Sunday: 10 AM–5 PM

Okay, here’s a detailed description of the Danby Lodge National Park Centre, crafted to be informative, engaging, and suitable for a visitor considering a trip, presented in the format you requested:

Danby Lodge National Park Centre: A Gateway to the North York Moors

The Danby Lodge National Park Centre, situated at Lodge Lane, Whitby, YO21 2NB, United Kingdom, serves as a vital hub for exploring the breathtaking beauty of the North York Moors National Park. It’s a highly-regarded tourist attraction offering a diverse range of amenities and activities, making it a fantastic destination for families, nature enthusiasts, and anyone seeking an engaging day out. The centre’s phone number is 1439772737, and you can find comprehensive details on their website: northyorkmoors.org.uk.

Key Features and Offerings

The Danby Lodge Centre is more than just a building; it's a carefully designed space to facilitate exploration and appreciation of the surrounding landscape. It functions primarily as a visitor center, providing essential information about the park’s trails, wildlife, and events. Visitors can access a well-stocked tourist information center, gaining valuable insights to enhance their experience.

Art Gallery: The centre houses an art gallery showcasing local artists and their interpretations of the North York Moors.
Gift Shop: A charming gift shop offers a selection of souvenirs, books, and local crafts.
Hiking Area: The centre provides access to several well-maintained hiking trails, catering to various fitness levels.
Tea House: Enjoy a relaxing break with refreshments in the on-site tea house.

Practical Information & Accessibility

The centre is easily accessible, boasting wheelchair accessible parking and a wheelchair accessible entrance. It’s also a delightful destination for families, with numerous activities geared towards children. Furthermore, the centre offers onsite services and the possibility to book appointments in advance.

Points of Interest & Recent Feedback

The Danby Lodge Centre consistently receives positive feedback, evidenced by its impressive average opinion of 4.6/5 based on 1004 reviews on Google My Business. While some visitors have noted that the centre is “still a work in progress,” highlighting areas for potential improvement, the overall sentiment is overwhelmingly positive. The cafe offers takeaway hot drinks, although service times have been occasionally slow. The shop is perceived as similar to those found at organizations like the National Trust, offering a curated selection of goods. The area surrounding the play park and the cafe are particularly well-suited for children.

Recommendation

For anyone planning a visit to the North York Moors National Park, the Danby Lodge National Park Centre is an absolute must-see. Its central location, combined with its diverse offerings, makes it an ideal starting point for your adventure. We strongly encourage you to visit the official website – northyorkmoors.org.uk – to explore detailed maps, event schedules, and to make an online appointment to ensure a seamless and enriching experience. Don't hesitate to contact them directly at 1439772737 with any questions you may have.

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👍 Reviews of Danby Lodge National Park Centre

Danby Lodge National Park Centre - Whitby

Natalie B.

3/5

Advertised as free day out but of course a fee to park. A great park for the kids. I'd describe this place as still a work in progress.
We were disappointed we couldn't walk the dog through the wood - even on a lead. Yet she was allowed in the cafe and field near play park. Shop was nice- similar to national trust. Cafe looked nice, we had take away hot drinks and service was slow. A good effort for the kids with sweet things to do.

Michael J.

5/5

We were really impressed with the Centre, we done a nice circular walk from here to the Moors. It took us just under 3 hours. Love place to use as a base, excellent facilities.

Mad M. 6.

5/5

My wife and I visited Danby Lodge in September 2024 on a day trip driving around the North York Moors. Luckily we had great weather to enjoy all the fresh air and outdoors had to offer. There are lots of activities to enjoy around the site of this former hunting lodge to Danby Castle.

There is a nice short walking trail that takes you around the grounds with several attractions along the way. The Danby Den playground is excellent and novel. The water bailiff audio guide was an interesting take. The dragon. The mud kitchen. The zip line. All excellent fun for the young ones.

We crossed the river Esk and walked up to Danby Castle. A lovely stroll across the moors without being too long or strenuous.

Crow Wood is adjacent to the parking lot and has the bird watching hut and a few other notable attractions around the loop.

There is a cafe serving hot drinks and snacks that was most welcome. In the same area there is an interactive nature exhibit intended for kids to learn about the environment. Its all really well done and we wished we had come here when our lad were a nipper.

Entry is free but paring has a small fee. Parking lot is pretty big and we had no problem finding a spot. It was an off-season weekday and was pretty quiet. I can imagine summer weekends this place would be teeming with families.

Great fun and highly recommended if you are in the area.

Carol S.

5/5

I want to be a child again and play!! What fun from a dragon to a mud kitchen.

Plus, there are lots of other fun activities.

Claire H.

5/5

I just love the exhibitions that are held here. Two of the best for me personally - The Lost Words in the past and on now, The Lost Spells. Lovely to see children engaging in the activities there too. It's great for families to visit, space to play, a play area, lots of nature and easy walks. Car parking is a little expensive, but I don't mind this when it is supporting the local economy. The cafe provides welcome refreshments. There are lots of lovely gifts, books, handcrafted items, cards and paintings by local artists. The staff are always friendly and helpful. Walking from the Centre is easy and is particularly glorious at the moment with the heather in full bloom.

yuyun D.

5/5

Great place for a family day out! Good facilities for children as well as the elderly. This is a favourite place of our 94 years old aunty who loves the painting gallery. She still paints too and is always happy (and looking forward) to seeing what's in the gallery. Nice small cafe, with good food and good service. Toilet and parking lot for disabled available. Oh.. One more thing... since December 2020, this place is recognised as one of the international dark skies reserves 😍😎🔭🪐🌚 Let's support them!

H S.

5/5

Visited Danby Lodge in April. We really enjoyed our walk to Danby Castle after picking up our North York Moors National Park guide book for £2.50. The walk is definitely not suitable for a buggy ride or for little children, but our nine year old managed really well. We crossed some farm field and tried to avoid cow pat on our path to up to Danby castle. I believe walking boots are essential 🙂 The weather was lovely with typical chilly wind. It took us about two hours to climb up, as we occasionally stopped and took photos as it was beautiful. The castle is small, nothing much to see but the view and the trip was an adventure, spending time as a family. It was a relaxing walk, not very busy. On the way back we crossed the Duck bridge. In the Moors Centre, there is a nice cafe with yummy cakes. Into the gift shop, at the back you can get into the museum. Outside is spacious if anyone is keen to picnic with a nice playground for little ones.

Pauline

5/5

Lovely walks around the forest, suitable for all levels. We did the Wellness Trail today, had lunch at the cafe ( the one beside the bicycle hire shop), then a gentle walk beside the river. The car park is a good size with spaces allocated for vans and cars. Toilets at the visitors centre, and beside the bike hire shop, are very clean. It is a lovely place to visit to get away from everything.