Beeforths Wood

Walking into Beeforths Wood feels like stepping properly off the beaten path, which is rare when you're staying near Whitby. The forest sits just beyond the town's holiday parks - close enough for an easy morning outing from Broadings Farm or Whitby Holiday Park, but far enough that you'll genuinely feel you've escaped.

It's a straightforward woodland walk through mixed deciduous trees, with paths that range from well-trodden to a bit boggy depending on the season. You won't find dramatic vistas or dramatic drop-offs - this is proper quiet forest. That said, the canopy is thick enough that it feels genuinely peaceful, and on a grey Yorkshire day that's exactly what you want.

Families with young walkers will manage it fine. The terrain isn't technically challenging, though after rain it can be muddy enough that you'll want decent boots. Allow an hour or so for a gentle circuit. It's the sort of place where kids might spot birds or get interested in moss and fallen logs - not a theme park, but restorative.

Go mid-week if you can. Weekends bring day-trippers from town, which rather defeats the purpose. Spring and autumn are when the light cuts through the trees properly. Summer gets a bit oppressively thick.

If you're basing yourself at one of the nearby parks - Northcliffe & Seaview are particularly well-rated - this works as an easy warm-up walk before heading into Whitby proper. It's free, it takes the edge off cabin fever, and it won't eat up your day. Worth the detour? Only if you're after quiet.