Anya's Wood

A proper woodland picnic spot near Thirsk that feels genuinely off the beaten track. Anya's Wood gives you enough trees to feel properly away from it all, with space to spread out a blanket and let the kids run about without worrying they'll crash into someone else's thermos. The woodland floor is soft underfoot - decent after rain when everything's damp and springy - and there's enough shade to keep the sun off your neck during those warmer afternoons.

It's the sort of place that works brilliantly if you're staying at either Hillside Caravan Park or Cote Ghyll just down the road. No more than five miles away, so ideal for a midweek escape when the site starts feeling a bit samey. Families will get a good hour or two out of it easily - let the children explore, have a proper sit-down meal, maybe a walk around the perimeter if you're feeling energetic.

The honest take: don't expect facilities or marked trails. This is a car-park-and-a-wood situation. You're bringing everything yourself. There's no visitor centre, no gift shop, no Instagram moment with a welcome sign. Just woodland, space, and birdsong. That's rather the point. Whether you pay to park I'm genuinely unsure, so check locally in Thirsk first. Worth the detour from the caravan parks though - gets you properly amongst the trees without driving into the Lake District.