Pefham Plantation

You'll find yourself walking among proper old-growth woodland just outside Driffield - Pefham Plantation is one of those forests that feels genuinely remote despite being minutes from civilisation. The trees are tall enough to make you crane your neck, and in autumn the floor disappears under a carpet of leaves that's brilliant for both kids and adults who fancy a proper ramble.

It's the kind of place where you can spend anything from forty minutes to three hours depending on how lost you want to get. The woodland here is managed forestry, so you're not stumbling over fallen trees constantly, but it's also got enough character that it doesn't feel sterile. Families with younger children will manage fine on the main paths; serious walkers will find plenty of scope for exploration. Birdwatchers should bring binoculars - the density of trees means you hear far more than you see.

Walking boots are worth the bother, especially after wet weather when the paths get properly soggy. There's no visitor centre or facilities that I could find, so pack what you need. The real bonus is how close it sits to Seaways Glamping just 1.3 miles away - if you're based there, this becomes your morning walk before breakfast, not a separate trip. Bugthorpe Grange is also within striking distance if you want to combine woodland time with a glamping break. Free access, no nonsense, no crowds. That's the appeal here.