Carr Plantation

The flatness of the landscape around Goole makes Carr Plantation feel more significant than it probably deserves to be. This isn't some dramatic woodland walk - it's a working forest plantation in the heart of the Vale of York where the land barely changes height. But that's actually quite nice if you're after a proper escape from the town without having to drive halfway to the Dales.

You get mixed woodland here, conifers mostly, with enough space to wander without bumping into anyone. The paths are straightforward - no scrambling or map-reading nonsense - which makes it decent for families with younger kids or anyone who just fancies a quieter outing. The main appeal is solitude. On a grey Yorkshire day, when the mist hangs between the trees, it feels appropriately atmospheric.

If you're camped at Apple Blossom just down the road, this is an easy afternoon option. Nothing dramatic, no views to write home about, but a genuine break from caravan life. The real value is in having somewhere green and empty within spitting distance of Goole itself - a town not exactly famed for its woodland strolls.

Timing-wise, allow a couple of hours max. Go early morning if you want to see any wildlife. The place doesn't change much season to season, though autumn when the light filters through differently might be the least bleak time to visit. Free access, obviously - it's just a forest, not an attraction with gates and a gift shop.