Cottingwith Covert

The woodland here sits quietly between York and the Vale of York, a proper slice of working forest that doesn't announce itself loudly. Cottingwith Covert is the sort of place you stumble into rather than trek specifically to see, though that's rather its charm. You get conifer plantations alongside older broadleaf growth, all of it crisscrossed with tracks that are fine for a gentle ramble but nothing spectacular for serious walkers after dramatic vistas.

It's best suited to families wanting to burn off an hour or so without venturing far from York, or birdwatchers who know what they're after - the habitat draws plenty of woodland species if you're patient. The forest floor can be soggy in winter, so boots matter. There's no café, no facilities to speak of, and admission appears free, though it's worth checking locally as these smaller woodlands sometimes change hands.

If you're based at one of the nearby holiday parks - Wigwam Holidays Ball Hall Farm is closest at just over two miles away - this makes a decent afternoon break. Acorn Glade Glamping York at three and a half miles is also within easy striking distance. The forest works well as a complement to a longer park holiday rather than a destination in its own right. You won't spend all day here, but on a grey Yorkshire afternoon when you need to stretch your legs properly, it does the job.