Village Plantation

You'll find yourself walking into proper woodland the moment you arrive at Village Plantation, just outside Northallerton. It's a straightforward forest - nothing fancy, no visitor centre or café - but that's rather the point. The trees are dense enough to feel like you've actually left civilisation behind, even though you're only minutes from town.

This is walker territory. The trails wind through mixed woodland with decent footing underfoot, and it's the sort of place where you can comfortably spend an hour or two without needing to book anything in advance or check opening hours. Families with older kids will get on fine here; there's room to let them loose without worrying they'll disappear entirely. Younger children might find it a bit samey after thirty minutes unless you're genuinely into spotting birds and identifying trees.

What you actually do is walk. There's no playground equipment, no view at the top of anything, no historical plaque. Just forest and paths. On a damp Yorkshire afternoon it's atmospheric; on a busy summer weekend it serves as a decent escape from the car parks and picnic spots elsewhere in the region.

If you're staying at Whorlton Pods or Cote Ghyll Caravan Park - both within a few miles - Village Plantation makes a solid leg-stretch between proper attractions. It's free to wander and takes as long as you fancy. Go for the walk itself rather than expecting a destination.