Lucy Cross Wood

You'll find yourself among proper old-growth woodland about twenty minutes' drive south of Richmond, where Lucy Cross Wood spreads across a decent chunk of North Yorkshire countryside. The trees here are genuinely impressive - ancient oaks and beeches that have been standing long enough to get genuinely thick at the base, and on a quiet morning the light filtering through feels like you've stepped into something worth the detour.

The woodland is straightforward stuff: marked paths wind through, you'll spot the occasional bench, and there's enough space to walk for an hour without feeling hemmed in or bored. It's the sort of place that works brilliantly for families after a bit of fresh air without the tourist crowds you'd get at a managed attraction - kids can properly explore without feeling shepherded along a visitor route. Walkers will appreciate it too, especially if you're after something between a casual stroll and a full hike.

There's no admission charge and no visitor centre to worry about, which keeps things refreshingly simple. Allow a couple of hours if you've got children wanting to potter about, or forty minutes if you're just after a decent walk. Spring and early summer are obviously best - the woodland floor comes alive with bluebells and the green canopy isn't so heavy it blocks out the sky.

If you're staying at Hewn Yorkshire nearby, this makes a sensible morning's outing before heading elsewhere in the Dales. It's not wildly famous, which is rather the point.