Moor House Plantation

The woodland around Moor House Plantation, just outside Northallerton, is proper walking country - the kind of place where you can actually breathe properly and hear yourself think. It's not a manicured attraction with visitor centres and gift shops; it's a genuine forest where you get to do the exploring yourself.

Walking through here, you'll find mixed woodland with decent tracks that work equally well for a brisk ramble or a slower potter if you've got kids in tow. The trees are established enough to create proper shade, which matters on warmer days. Local walkers know this area well, and it shows - the paths are well-maintained without being over-signposted.

This is ideal for families wanting to get out of the car without committing to a full day's expedition, or for anyone who just wants somewhere quiet to walk off a heavy lunch. Expect to spend anything from 45 minutes to two hours depending on which routes you take. There's no entry fee that I'm aware of, and facilities appear minimal - so come prepared.

If you're staying at Cote Ghyll Caravan Park just down the road, Moor House is essentially on your doorstep. It pairs well with exploring the market town of Northallerton itself, or heading out to Whorlton Pods for a different pace of things. It won't set your pulse racing with dramatic vistas, but as a reliable woodland walk within reach of decent accommodation, it does the job.