Malton

Two words spring to mind when you first arrive in this North Yorkshire market town: proper Yorkshire. Malton doesn't try to be anything it's not - it's got that genuine feel of a working town that happens to sit in some of the most beautiful countryside England has to offer.

The town centre feels refreshingly real. None of the tourist tat you'll find elsewhere, just honest shops and cafes that serve the locals first. It's the sort of place where you can still get a decent cup of tea and a proper conversation.

What makes Malton special is its position between the Yorkshire Wolds and the edge of the North York Moors. You're perfectly placed for some serious countryside exploration, whether that's heading north towards the dramatic moorland or south into the gentle rolling Wolds. The contrast is quite something - you can be walking through heather and bracken in the morning and across chalk downs by afternoon.

History buffs will appreciate George Cayley's Workshop, where the father of aerodynamics did some of his groundbreaking work. It's a fascinating glimpse into Victorian innovation that most people walk straight past.

Getting here is straightforward enough - you're about 20 miles northeast of York, well connected by road. The surrounding area is dotted with glamping sites and caravan parks, from Vale of Pickering Caravan Park to the more upmarket options like Wolds Walk Glamping. Staying at one of these gives you the best of both worlds: easy access to Malton's amenities and shops, plus you're right on the doorstep of some magnificent walking country. The Yorkshire Wolds Way passes nearby, and you're within striking distance of both Pickering and the coast.