Crooked Hill Wood

The woodland around Crooked Hill isn't going to blow your mind with signage or facilities, but that's rather the point. You get proper forest here - dense conifers mixed with deciduous trees, the sort of place where the light filters through in shafts and you can actually hear yourself think. It's a working woodland, so don't expect manicured trails or visitor centres.

Walkers will find the most value here. The terrain is uneven and muddy even in dry spells, so leave the trainers at home. Families with young children might manage short loops, but older kids who enjoy stomping about in the undergrowth will have a better time than toddlers. The canopy is thick enough that it stays reasonably cool even in summer, which counts for something if you're visiting during August.

There's no admission fee - it's open access woodland - and you can spend anything from 45 minutes on a short loop to a full afternoon if you combine it with the surrounding network. Bring a map though. The paths are there, but they're not exactly prominent. Spring's excellent if you want to catch bluebells, though autumn light through the trees is genuinely lovely.

If you're staying at Hillside Caravan Park just down the road near Thirsk, this is a decent morning's walk without needing to drive far. It works well alongside a broader North Yorkshire holiday - not a destination in itself, but a proper working woodland that rewards you for knowing it's there.