Kirk Gill Moor Wood

There's something properly restorative about Kirk Gill Moor Wood, a patch of working forest near Leyburn that doesn't advertise itself much but rewards those who bother to find it. You're walking through a mix of conifers and broadleaves, with proper woodland floor underfoot - the kind of place that feels like proper Yorkshire rather than some manicured country park.

The main draw is the network of paths that wind through the trees. Nothing dramatic happens here - no waterfalls, no folly at the end, no archaeological mystery. It's just good, straightforward walking through forest, which is exactly the point. The paths are reasonably well-maintained, though muddy after rain, and you can easily spend an hour or two wandering without hitting a dead end. Families with younger kids will find it manageable; older children might want something with more of a destination attached to it.

What makes it work as part of a broader park holiday is location. Stablefell Holidays and Campsite sits just 5.7 miles away, and if you're based there, this is the kind of spot that breaks up a day of flat-field living. Not a must-do by any means, but a proper tonic if you want an hour in the trees without driving halfway across Yorkshire. Bring decent boots, mind - it drains poorly in places. Best visited in drier spells when you can actually see the woodland rather than just trudging through bog.