Swainby Country Park

The Cleveland Way cuts right through Swainby Country Park, and that's really what you need to know. This isn't some manicured showpiece - it's proper moorland and woodland on the edge of the North York Moors, the kind of place where you show up with boots and a map rather than expecting visitor facilities. The park sits just south of Northallerton, making it genuinely accessible without being overrun.

What you get here is straightforward walking terrain. Woodland trails criss-cross through beech and oak, opening occasionally onto open moorland with decent views north across the Vale of Mowbray. The Cleveland Way section is well-marked, though there's plenty of off-piste exploring if you fancy it. It's the sort of place where you can spend an afternoon if you're serious about walking, or knock out a brisk two-hour loop if you're not.

Families with older kids will do fine here - the terrain isn't technical, just up and down. Younger ones might tire on the longer routes, but there are shorter circuits that work. Walkers heading up the Moors will pass through anyway, so it makes sense as a warm-up or cool-down spot.

Being so close to Whorlton Pods and Cote Ghyll Caravan Park means you can properly base yourself nearby. Free access, no faffing about with opening hours - you just turn up. Go early on weekends to avoid the Cleveland Way crowds, and don't expect anything fancy. That's the point.