Dalton Wood

The woodland around Dalton Wood, just outside Tadcaster, is proper woodland - the kind where you actually feel like you've stepped away rather than just wandered to the edge of town. Mature trees, decent paths, and the sort of quiet that makes you remember why people bother with forests at all.

It's a straightforward spot for a walk if you're staying at one of the nearby glamping sites - Wighill Park or Cawood Park are both within spitting distance, and York South's lodges aren't far either. Nothing elaborate about it. You come here to walk, breathe in some fresh air, maybe spot a bit of wildlife if you're lucky. Families with younger kids will find it manageable enough; older walkers will appreciate the space without crowds.

Allow an hour or two depending on how lost you want to get. There's no visitor centre or café, so bring what you need. It's the sort of place that doesn't demand much of you - no entry fees hanging about, no set opening times that'll catch you out. Just a wood that works as a proper break from the village life of Tadcaster itself.

If you're based at one of the holiday parks in the area, this is worth dropping into alongside a day trip to York, which is close enough for a proper outing. It won't take over your afternoon, which is rather the point.