Enjoy a wonderful moorland walk - right on the doorstep of York

A last burst of the summer warmth before the cool of autumn sets in, a walk amongst the heather can be awe-inspiring – and August is the best time to see it.

Plants have adapted to thrive in moorland areas, where the weather is often cold, wet and windy -, low-growing, tough perennials and sparse hawthorn and occasional birch or Scots pine stand firm.

Heather, also known as 'ling', is an abundant plant on heathland, moorland, bogs and even in woodland where the light penetrates though.

Plants often grow together to form a thick carpet, which helps protect them from the worst of the weather – and creates the stunning and iconic scene we – and the bees, moths and butterflies - enjoy so much.

Here are some of our best nature reserves; pick your way between the purple fronds, a little off the beaten track…

Strensall Common nature reserve, York

Strensall Common (Image: Amy Cooper, Yorkshire Wildlife Trust)

A fabulous large heathland close to York where the pink heads and grey green leaves of cross-leaved heath intermingle with the purple spikes and green foliage of ling heather. Common lizards bask on the stumps of silver birch, bold Southern hawker dragonflies patrol sheltered sunny areas and birds of prey often wheel overhead.

A 2.5km walk around the nature reserve will take around an hour to complete, with something new to discover on every visit and the occasional rumble of a train whizzing by on its way to Scarborough.

However, the reserve forms part of the larger Strensall Common space used occasionally by the military for training if you fancy a longer walk, and there are two car parks to choose from. Please note that dogs are permitted on leads only, and that some paths around the reserve are uneven tracks not suitable for wheelchair or pushchair access.

Allerthorpe Common nature reserve, York

Heather at Allerthorpe Common (Image: Amy Cooper, Yorkshire Wildlife Trust)

Allerthorpe Common’s history can be traced back to AD 1086, when it was recorded in the Domesday Book. Back then it was known as Aluuarstorp, meaning a village belonging to a man called Alfard. We hope Alfard would like what we’ve done with the place since we began managing it in 1966!

As well as enjoying the bright purple and pink bushes of cross-leaved heath and ling heather – shoulder high in some places! – Allerthorpe Common is a great place to spot damselflies and dragonflies darting around the pools on the reserve, the occasional early morning roe deer, and our much-beloved Exmoor ponies, who have recently relocated here from nearby Askham Bog.

The paths around the reserve are very uneven, but the slow going means there is plenty of time to see what you can spot!

Dogs are not permitted into the nature reserve, but for a longer walk they are welcome on leads in nearby Allerthorpe Wood, managed by the Forestry Commission, which has a paid car park.

For those less able, the track through Allerthorpe Wood to Allerthorpe Common is surfaced and largely flat underfoot.

Fen Bog nature reserve, North York Moors

Fen Bog, up on the North York Moors (Image: Jono Leadley, Yorkshire Wildlife Trust)

Fen Bog offers a winning combination of stunning views and some of Yorkshire’s best wildlife.

As well as purple swathes of heather intermingling with some of the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust reserve’s rarer plant species, curlew can be heard calling from the surrounding moors, small pearl-bordered fritillary and large heath butterflies flutter in the summer sun, and if you time your visit well you may also see a steam train pass down the Pickering railway line adjacent to the nature reserve.

There is room for several cars on the track next to the gate onto the reserve, and dogs are welcome on leads.

A visit to the reserve will take a couple of hours, but there’s plenty to see in the surrounding area too. The North York Moors includes one of England’s largest expenses of heather moorland, and most of Yorkshire’s heathland is included in open access rights, criss-crossed with paths under big open skies.

• Have you been on a recent visit to one of the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust nature reserves? Do share your photos with us – we always enjoy seeing what our visitors have spotted!
• Amy Cooper is the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust's communications officer