# Guisborough Staycation Guide — Where to Stay & What to Do > Guisborough, North Yorkshire: ruined priory, moorland trails and Roseberry Topping on the doorstep of the North York Moors. Source: https://staycation.co.uk/guisborough (Staycation.co.uk). Cite the source page, not this text version. Priory ruins, moorland trails, one handsome Yorkshire market town Photo © Karen “Wantasmallbummum” Wray, Google Maps [Guide](https://staycation.co.uk/guisborough) [🏨 Hotels](https://staycation.co.uk/guisborough/hotels) [🏡 Cottages](https://staycation.co.uk/guisborough/cottages) [⛺ Camping](https://staycation.co.uk/guisborough/camping) [🎟️ Attractions](https://staycation.co.uk/guisborough/attractions) [🍽️ Restaurants](https://staycation.co.uk/guisborough/restaurants) Tucked beneath the northern escarpment of the North York Moors, Guisborough is a market town that has quietly gone about its business for the best part of a thousand years. Its wide, tree-lined main street still follows the medieval layout, flanked by Georgian frontages, independent shops and the kind of unhurried pace that makes it easy to forget the Teesside conurbation is only a few miles to the north. What draws most visitors, though, is the soaring skeleton of Gisborough Priory, whose single towering east wall has stood sentinel over the town since the 14th century. Guisborough sits right on the seam between industrial Teesside and genuine moorland wilderness, and that contrast is part of its appeal. Walk south from the town centre for ten minutes and the streets give way almost immediately to Guisborough Woods and the steep flanks of the Cleveland Hills, part of the North York Moors National Park. It is this position, gateway town to the moors, close enough to the coast for a day trip to Saltburn or Staithes, and only a short hop from Middlesbrough, that has made Guisborough a sensible, less crowded base for exploring one of England's wildest national parks. ## Getting to Guisborough Guisborough sits just off the A171 between Whitby and Middlesbrough, around 10 miles from Middlesbrough and 20 miles from the coastal town of Whitby, making it an easy drive from the A19 and A1(M) corridor. The town's own railway station closed to passengers back in 1964, so the nearest working stations are Nunthorpe and Middlesbrough, both a short drive or bus ride away, with regular services from there onward. Teesside International Airport is around 12 miles to the west for those arriving by air, and local bus routes connect Guisborough to Middlesbrough, Redcar and Saltburn-by-the-Sea. ## Best time to visit Guisborough Late spring through early autumn is the classic window, when the moors above town are at their most walkable and Gisborough Priory's gardens are in full bloom; the priory itself is open Wednesday to Sunday and bank holidays between March and November. August brings the moorland heather into flower on the surrounding hills, a spectacular sight from Roseberry Topping. Autumn suits the woodland walks around Guisborough Forest, while a crisp winter's day can make the climb to Captain Cook's Monument feel especially dramatic, though the exposed moorland paths deserve proper boots and warm layers whatever the season. ## Where to stay in Guisborough(4) [All hotels in Guisborough →](https://staycation.co.uk/guisborough/hotels) About staying in Guisborough Guisborough makes a practical, well-placed base for exploring the northern edge of the North York Moors without the summer crowds of Whitby or the coast. The town itself has a small selection of traditional inns and bed and breakfasts within walking distance of the priory ruins and market square, useful if you want to leave the car behind for a day. A short drive out brings you to Great Ayton and Newton-under-Roseberry, where country pubs with rooms sit right beneath Roseberry Topping and Captain Cook's Monument, putting some of the area's best walking directly on the doorstep. Guisborough's position, moors to the south, Teesside's road and rail links to the north, and the coast at Saltburn and Whitby within easy striking distance, means it works equally well as a one or two-night stopover or as a quieter alternative base for a longer North Yorkshire holiday. Families and walkers tend to do particularly well here: the terrain ranges from gentle woodland strolls in Guisborough Forest to the properly steep pull up Roseberry Topping, so there is something to suit most fitness levels within a few miles of any bed. Booking ahead is sensible in summer and around school holidays, when rooms in the more characterful village pubs fill up quickly, but Guisborough itself rarely feels as pressured as the bigger moorland and coastal honeypots nearby. [Cross Keys by Chef & Brewer Collection Middlesborough Road, Guisborough](https://staycation.co.uk/guisborough/hotels/cross-keys-by-chef-brewer-collection) [Gisborough Hall Whitby Lane, Guisborough](https://staycation.co.uk/guisborough/hotels/gisborough-hall) [The Fox And Hounds Slapewath, Guisborough](https://staycation.co.uk/guisborough/hotels/the-fox-and-hounds) [The Fox Inn Bow Street, Guisborough](https://staycation.co.uk/guisborough/hotels/the-fox-inn) ## Things to Do in Guisborough(2) [All attractions in Guisborough →](https://staycation.co.uk/guisborough/attractions) Top things to do in Guisborough Guisborough rewards a slow wander as much as it does a day of moorland walking. Here are the highlights. - **Gisborough Priory** — The ruined Augustinian priory, founded around 1119 by an ancestor of Robert the Bruce, was once the fourth-richest monastery in Yorkshire before its dissolution in 1539. Its dramatic east wall, gatehouse and monastic gardens are cared for by English Heritage and the volunteer-led Gisborough Priory Project, who run free guided tours. - **Guisborough Priory Woodland Garden** — The gardens beside the ruins include the 18th-century Monks Walk and a set of carved standing stones uncovered during Victorian excavations, a quiet, atmospheric spot even outside the priory's own opening hours. - **Captain Cook's Monument** — A striking 1827 obelisk on Easby Moor above neighbouring Great Ayton, where James Cook grew up, reached via the car park at Gribdale Gate. The climb is rewarded with sweeping views across the Cleveland Hills to Roseberry Topping and the coast. - **Roseberry Topping** — This distinctive, part-collapsed hill just outside Guisborough is one of North Yorkshire's most recognisable landmarks and a favourite short but steep climb, with the summit trig point giving panoramic views over the Tees Valley. - **Guisborough market** — A traditional market has been held on Westgate every Thursday and Saturday for centuries, with a farmers' market adding local produce on the second Saturday of the month. - **Guisborough Museum** — Housed in the old fire station, this small local museum charts the town's priory, ironstone-mining and market-town history. - **Guisborough Forest and Walkway** — Waymarked trails through mixed woodland on the edge of town, popular with walkers and cyclists heading up onto the moor. [Hunt Fun Guisborough](https://staycation.co.uk/guisborough/attractions/hunt-fun-guisborough) [Guisborough Forest and Walkways ⭐ 4.8](https://staycation.co.uk/guisborough/attractions/guisborough-forest-and-walkways) [Saltburn Beach ⭐ 4.8](https://staycation.co.uk/guisborough/attractions/saltburn-beach) [Kirkleatham Owl Centre ⭐ 4.7](https://staycation.co.uk/guisborough/attractions/kirkleatham-owl-centre) [The Play Factory ⭐ 4.5](https://staycation.co.uk/guisborough/attractions/the-play-factory) [Wacky Warehouse - Wheatlands Farm ⭐ 4.4](https://staycation.co.uk/guisborough/attractions/wacky-warehouse-wheatlands-farm) [Marshalls Beach and Leisure Huts Ltd ⭐ 4.6](https://staycation.co.uk/guisborough/attractions/marshalls-beach-and-leisure-huts-ltd) [Saltburn Cliff Lift ⭐ 4.5](https://staycation.co.uk/guisborough/attractions/saltburn-cliff-lift) ## Where to Eat in Guisborough(32) [All restaurants in Guisborough →](https://staycation.co.uk/guisborough/restaurants) About eating out in Guisborough Guisborough is a North Yorkshire market town positioned at the gateway to the moors, with 32 restaurants and places to eat to choose from. Of the 26 with Google ratings, the average score is 4.6 out of 5, and 31 of our listings hold a 5 food hygiene rating. The town's most highly-reviewed dining spots offer varied experiences. Thingy-Ma-Jigs scores 4.8 out of 5 from 249 reviews. Cookfellas Wine Bar & Eatery holds 4.7 out of 5 from 678 reviews. Badgers has 4.6 out of 5 from 322 reviews. Tocketts Mill Country Park & Restaurant and The Voyager both rate 4.4 out of 5, from 1584 and 1143 reviews respectively. Costa Coffee offers 4.3 out of 5 from 375 reviews. Whether you're after a full meal, wine bar food or a coffee, Guisborough has options across all these categories within the town itself. Neighbouring areas with separate dining guides include York, Harrogate, Middlesbrough, Scarborough, Whitby, Skipton, Redcar and Ripon. [Beijing 7 ⭐ 5.0](https://staycation.co.uk/guisborough/restaurants/beijing-7) [Gigr ⭐ 5.0](https://staycation.co.uk/guisborough/restaurants/gigr) [Odd Socks Cafe Launderette ⭐ 4.8](https://staycation.co.uk/guisborough/restaurants/odd-socks-cafe-launderette) [Cookfellas Wine Bar & Eatery ⭐ 4.7](https://staycation.co.uk/guisborough/restaurants/cookfellas-wine-bar-eatery) [Greedy Teds ⭐ 4.7](https://staycation.co.uk/guisborough/restaurants/greedy-teds) [R & R Bistro ⭐ 4.7](https://staycation.co.uk/guisborough/restaurants/r-r-bistro) [Badgers ⭐ 4.6](https://staycation.co.uk/guisborough/restaurants/badgers) [Indian Cottage ⭐ 4.5](https://staycation.co.uk/guisborough/restaurants/indian-cottage) ## Attractions Near Guisborough [All attractions in Guisborough →](https://staycation.co.uk/attractions) Worth the trip — within 50 miles of Guisborough. [3 mi Saltburn Beach Redcar · ⭐ 4.8](https://staycation.co.uk/redcar/attractions/saltburn-beach) [4 mi Kirkleatham Owl Centre Redcar · ⭐ 4.7](https://staycation.co.uk/redcar/attractions/kirkleatham-owl-centre) [4 mi The Play Factory Skelton · ⭐ 4.5](https://staycation.co.uk/skelton/attractions/the-play-factory) [4 mi Wacky Warehouse - Wheatlands Farm Redcar · ⭐ 4.4](https://staycation.co.uk/redcar/attractions/wacky-warehouse-wheatlands-farm) [5 mi Marshalls Beach and Leisure Huts Ltd Saltburn-by-the-Sea · ⭐ 4.6](https://staycation.co.uk/saltburn-by-the-sea/attractions/marshalls-beach-and-leisure-huts-ltd) [5 mi Saltburn Cliff Lift Saltburn-by-the-Sea · ⭐ 4.5](https://staycation.co.uk/saltburn-by-the-sea/attractions/saltburn-cliff-lift) [5 mi Saltburn Miniature Railway Saltburn-by-the-Sea · ⭐ 4.8](https://staycation.co.uk/saltburn-by-the-sea/attractions/saltburn-miniature-railway) [5 mi Captain Cook Schoolroom Museum Great Ayton · ⭐ 4.4](https://staycation.co.uk/great-ayton/attractions/captain-cook-schoolroom-museum) ## Camping in Guisborough(2) [All campsites in Guisborough →](https://staycation.co.uk/guisborough/camping) About camping in Guisborough Wild camping without the landowner's permission remains illegal in England, including across the North York Moors, so anyone wanting to sleep out under the stars near Guisborough will need a proper campsite or a landowner's explicit consent rather than pitching up on open moorland. That said, the terrain around Guisborough, the steep, heather-clad flanks of the Cleveland Hills and the gentler woodland of Guisborough Forest, makes for superb walking country, and a cluster of small campsites and caravan parks in the villages south and east of town put you within easy reach of Roseberry Topping, Captain Cook's Monument and the wider moors. Expect a mix of grassy touring pitches, seasonal glamping pods and a handful of farm-based sites that keep things simple and quiet rather than resort-style. The best camping season here runs from late spring to early autumn: the moors are at their driest and most walkable, the heather puts on its purple show across the hills in August, and long evenings make the most of the views from an exposed pitch. Winter camping is possible at some year-round sites but the exposed, weather-battered moorland above Guisborough is a serious proposition outside the warmer months, with drainage on the clay-heavy lower ground also worth checking after wet spells. For anyone who would rather skip the tent altogether, glamping options in the area, from wooden pods to safari-style tents, offer a similar sense of being out among the hills without the packing list, and tend to sit in the same villages as the area's better campsites, close to good pubs for an evening meal after a day on the Cleveland Way. [Tocketts Mill Country Park ⭐ 4.4](https://staycation.co.uk/north-yorkshire/camping/tocketts-mill-country-park) [Baby Moon Camp ⭐ 4.8 · from £115/night](https://staycation.co.uk/guisborough/camping/baby-moon-camp) [Margrove Park Holidays ⭐ 4.5](https://staycation.co.uk/north-yorkshire/camping/margrove-park-holidays) [Cherry Tree House Campsite (Certificated Site) ⭐ 4.8](https://staycation.co.uk/north-yorkshire/camping/cherry-tree-house-campsite-certificated-site) [Wyke Lodges and Touring Caravans ⭐ 4.6 · from £38/night](https://staycation.co.uk/guisborough/camping/wyke-lodges-and-touring-caravans) [New Marske Sports Club ⭐ 4.3 · from £28/night](https://staycation.co.uk/redcar/camping/new-marske-sports-club) [Fletchers Farm ⭐ 4.6](https://staycation.co.uk/north-yorkshire/camping/fletchers-farm) [Redcar RUFC Certificated Site ⭐ 4.5](https://staycation.co.uk/durham/camping/redcar-rufc-certificated-site) ## Self-Catering Cottages in Guisborough [All cottages in Guisborough →](https://staycation.co.uk/guisborough/cottages) [🏡Cottage Laurel Cottage 3 bed · sleeps 6 · from £404](https://staycation.co.uk/redcar-and-cleveland/cottages/laurel-cottage-syk1075455) [Chimes Cottage 1 bed · sleeps 2 · from £331](https://staycation.co.uk/redcar-and-cleveland/cottages/chimes-cottage-syk1178310) [96 Church Street 1 bed · sleeps 2 · from £313](https://staycation.co.uk/redcar-and-cleveland/cottages/96-church-street-syk1177469) [94 Church Street 1 bed · sleeps 2 · from £321](https://staycation.co.uk/redcar-and-cleveland/cottages/94-church-street-syk1177468) [🏡Cottage Guisborough Town Hall 7 bed · sleeps 18 · from £2,365](https://staycation.co.uk/redcar-and-cleveland/cottages/guisborough-town-hall-syk1096196) [🏡Cottage 10 Chaloner 2 bed · sleeps 4 · from £431](https://staycation.co.uk/redcar-and-cleveland/cottages/10-chaloner-syk1086819) [🏡Cottage 10 Walton Terrace 2 bed · sleeps 4 · from £400](https://staycation.co.uk/redcar-and-cleveland/cottages/10-walton-terrace-syk1078945) [🏡Cottage 1 Johnson's Yard 2 bed · sleeps 4 · from £261](https://staycation.co.uk/redcar-and-cleveland/cottages/1-johnsons-yard-syk1162586) ## Common questions about Guisborough How many campsites are there in Guisborough? We list 2 campsites in and around Guisborough, of which 1 take tents and 2 offer glamping. Which campsites in Guisborough have electric hook-up? 1 of the 2 campsites we list in Guisborough offer an electric hook-up. Where can I stay in Guisborough? We list 4 hotels, B&Bs and guest houses in and around Guisborough. What is there to do in Guisborough? We list 2 attractions and things to do in and around Guisborough. Where can I eat in Guisborough? We list 32 restaurants, pubs and cafes in and around Guisborough. ### 🏨 Find Hotels in Guisborough Search hotels, B&Bs and self-catering on Booking.com. [Search Accommodation →](https://www.anrdoezrs.net/click-101762279-15734754?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.booking.com%2Fsearchresults.en-gb.html%3Fss%3DGuisborough%252C%2BUnited%2BKingdom) Affiliate link ### Explore Guisborough - [🏨 Hotels & B&Bs](https://staycation.co.uk/guisborough/hotels) - [🏡 Cottages](https://staycation.co.uk/guisborough/cottages) - [⛺ Campsites & glamping](https://staycation.co.uk/guisborough/camping) - [🎟️ Attractions](https://staycation.co.uk/guisborough/attractions) - [🍽️ Restaurants](https://staycation.co.uk/guisborough/restaurants) - [🗺️ More in North Yorkshire](https://staycation.co.uk/north-yorkshire) - [🧭 All of the Yorkshire and the Humber](https://staycation.co.uk/regions/yorkshire-and-the-humber) ## Staycation ideas for Guisborough [All staycation ideas →](https://staycation.co.uk/staycation-ideas) [The Best Last-Minute UK Staycations Six well-connected UK towns and cities worth booking at short notice, chosen for easy travel and a decent spread of accommodation once the school-holiday crowds have thinned.](https://staycation.co.uk/staycation-ideas/best-last-minute-staycations) [Rainy Day Staycations: Best UK Breaks for Bad Weather When the forecast turns grim, these UK cities and spa towns keep their appeal indoors, with museums, galleries and grand architecture to fill a wet weekend.](https://staycation.co.uk/staycation-ideas/rainy-day-staycations-uk) [The Best Dog-Friendly Staycations in Britain From Cornish coast paths to Lake District fells, these six British destinations offer the open beaches, moors and forests that make a staycation genuinely enjoyable for dogs and their owners alike.](https://staycation.co.uk/staycation-ideas/dog-friendly-staycations) [The Best UK Staycations for Families with Young Kids From New Forest ponies to Cornish rock pools, these six UK destinations combine easy logistics, safe beaches and family-friendly attractions for a stress-free break with young children.](https://staycation.co.uk/staycation-ideas/best-staycations-for-families)