Back Wood

A proper woodland walk rather than a destination attraction, Back Wood sits just outside Hawes and offers decent relief from the Pennine moorland that dominates this part of North Yorkshire. The forest is modest - nothing like the sprawling estates you'd find further south - but it's dense enough to feel like actual woodland, with good tree cover and paths that wind through without too much faffing about.

You're looking at maybe an hour or two depending on how far you fancy walking. There's shade, which matters more than you'd think when the fell wind picks up. Families with young walkers will manage fine on a dry day, though after rain the paths get boggy. It's more functional than dramatic - nobody comes away talking about it for years, but it's a solid option for breaking up a holiday at the nearby campsites.

Cherish Glamping and Usha Gap Farm are both within striking distance, making Back Wood a natural add-on to a longer Wensleydale stay. Pair it with time in Hawes itself - the market town's got a proper farmer's market if you time it right - rather than treating it as the main event.

Free to access. The woodland isn't managed as a visitor attraction, so there are no facilities or formal routes. Worth a walk if you're already in the area and the weather's holding, but don't plan your whole day around it.