Burnthouse Wood

The woodland around Burnthouse Wood delivers exactly what you want from a North Yorkshire forest walk - decent shade, proper paths, and enough space to lose the crowds without getting genuinely lost. It's mixed deciduous forest, the kind where you'll find yourself under a canopy of oak and beech, with a stream running through if you're there after rain. Most visitors knock it out in 45 minutes to an hour, though you can easily extend a walk by linking with routes across the wider area near Northallerton.

This isn't a destination that'll keep young children entertained for hours on its own. Teenagers and adults who actually like walking will get more from it - the terrain's undemanding but properly wooded, which beats a corporate nature reserve. There's no visitor centre, facilities are minimal, and you'll need to check locally for current access details since woodland management can shift things about.

If you're based at Cote Ghyll Caravan Park (practically on the doorstep at half a mile away), this is a genuine bonus - somewhere to burn an hour between breakfast and heading out proper. The five-star rating there tells you the site itself is well-kept, and having a forest walk this close is a solid advantage. Combine it with a wider loop around the Northallerton area and you've got a solid half-day. It's not dramatic enough to plan a whole trip around, but it's genuinely useful for a family needing a straightforward woodland amble when you're already camping nearby.