Community Park Pumptrack

The pumptrack at Community Park near Pickering is a proper bit of fun if you've got kids who are into bikes or scooters. It's a purpose-built circuit with rollers and berms - basically a smooth, looping track that lets you build up rhythm and speed without needing to pedal constantly. You're pumping your weight through the turns and dips instead, which sounds simple but takes a decent bit of technique to get right.

It works best for younger riders aged roughly six upwards, though teenagers often come back to it too. Adults can join in, though you'll look a bit daft on a full-size bike unless you're genuinely skilled. Allow an hour or two depending on how keen your lot are - it's the sort of place where they'll either nail it immediately and want to stay all afternoon, or get frustrated after twenty minutes. Fair warning: the learning curve is real.

The park sits close to Pickering, which gives you decent access from the nearby caravan parks like Lakeside or Swallowtails if you're basing yourselves there for a week. It's free, as far as anyone knows, though you'll want to check locally as these things can change. Best visited on a dry day - mud turns it into a slog - and weekday mornings beat weekends if you want any space to actually move around. Not a standalone destination, but a solid add-on for families doing the North York Moors circuit.