Weary Bank Wood

A proper woodland walk rather than a destination in itself, Weary Bank Wood sits just outside Northallerton and delivers exactly what you'd expect from a North Yorkshire forest - tall trees, damp leaf litter underfoot, and the sort of peace that makes you forget the market town's just down the road.

You won't find visitor facilities or waymarked trails here. It's the kind of place you arrive at with a decent pair of boots and a rough idea of where you're going. The woodland floor is thick with bracken and moss, and on a misty morning the whole place has that proper atmospheric quality that Victorians went on about. A good hour's ramble gets you through the main body of it, longer if you're dawdling or bird-watching.

Families with young children might find it a bit samey after twenty minutes - there's no obvious focal point, no waterfall or clearing to work towards. But for anyone who actually enjoys walking among trees without the theme park treatment, it's worth the trip from Northallerton. The area's well set up for a proper countryside break, and Whorlton Pods nearby offers a decent base if you're planning several days of exploring the local forests and moorland.

Visit when it's not been raining for three days straight - the mud can be relentless otherwise. Autumn's the obvious choice, when the light filters through properly and the whole wood turns bronze.