Margaret Coey Wood

The woodland floor here is soft underfoot, thick with moss and leaf litter that's been accumulating for decades. Margaret Coey Wood sits just outside Northallerton and is the kind of place you stumble upon rather than plan for - proper woodland walking territory with enough room to stretch your legs without feeling crowded.

What you get is straightforward: mixed woodland with decent paths threading through beech and oak, the sort of place where it actually feels like you've escaped town rather than just popped into a local nature reserve. There's no visitor centre or facilities to speak of, which means it's refreshingly low-key. Bring your own refreshments and sensible shoes. The walks are manageable - you're not looking at epic hikes, more like an hour or so of gentle rambling depending on which route you fancy.

Families with kids who can handle uneven ground will have a decent time here; it's not so big that little ones will get bored, but it's big enough to feel like an adventure. Walkers will appreciate the quiet - there's no playground infrastructure, so it doesn't feel like a zoo on school holidays. History types might be less enthused unless they're keen on woodland ecology.

If you're staying at Whorlton Pods or Cote Ghyll Caravan Park nearby, this slots in nicely as a morning walk before heading elsewhere. It's free, naturally, since there's nowhere to pay. Go on a damp day after rain if you can - that's when the woodland really comes alive.