North York Moors National Park

The North York Moors roll out in front of you like someone's taken a massive roller to the landscape - proper dramatic when the heather blooms purple across those vast open hills. It's a genuine wilderness on your doorstep, only an hour or so from York, and it feels properly remote even when you're not that far from civilisation.

You're not visiting a single attraction here so much as stepping into the thing itself. The park covers 554 square miles of moorland, woodland and villages, so what you do depends entirely on what appeals. Walkers absolutely should come - the trails range from gentle riverside strolls to serious ridge hikes that'll test your legs. The Lyke Wake Walk is the notorious one, a 40-mile lung-buster that most people don't do in one go. If you want something achievable in a day, the route around Rosedale Abbey is cracking, or head up Blakey Ridge for views that stretch for miles when the weather's playing ball.

The villages dotted through - places like Goathland (yes, the one from Harry Potter, though don't expect much beyond the train station) and Helmsley - are worth a wander for their stone cottages and local cafes. History types will appreciate the Iron Age forts and medieval ruins scattered about. Families with younger kids might find the sheer emptiness a bit much after a couple of hours, unless they're keen on spotting red grouse and the occasional adder.

Stay at Whitby Cliff Top Touring Park if you want a base with proper facilities - it's only three miles away and highly rated. Entry to the park itself is free, though car parks charge a few quid. Allow as much time as you want, really. A weekend minimum, ideally longer.