Black Wood

Black Wood sits just outside Northallerton, a proper Yorkshire forest where you can lose a couple of hours without trying too hard. It's the sort of place where the trees are tall enough to make you feel genuinely away from it all, even though you're minutes from town. The woodland floor is soft underfoot - moss, leaf litter, the usual forest bits - and there's enough of a path network to keep you from getting hopelessly turned around.

Walkers will get the most from it. Families with young kids might find it slightly thin on attractions - there's no visitor centre, no cafe, no themed play area. But if your children are the type who'll happily scramble over fallen logs and hunt for wildlife, they'll be fine here. It's free to access, which helps.

The big question is timing. Spring brings bluebells if you're lucky; autumn turns everything gold and muddy. Winter can feel a bit bleak and exposed in places. Summer's pleasant enough, though the flies can be aggressive. Allow an hour or so for a decent wander, longer if you're the contemplative type.

If you're staying at one of the nearby parks - Cote Ghyll or Wighill Park Glamping are close by - Black Wood works as a morning diversion before heading elsewhere. It's not a reason to book a holiday in itself, but it slots neatly into a broader North Yorkshire trip where you're mixing forest walks with visits to Kiplin Hall or Northallerton's market square.