Easingwold Maize Maze

A maize maze near York that changes design every summer - this is proper fun if you've got kids in tow, or if you're the competitive type who can't resist a puzzle. You're essentially let loose in a field of head-high corn with a map (or without, if you're feeling brave) and tasked with finding your way through to the exit. Most people manage it in anything from twenty minutes to an hour, depending on how directionally challenged they are.

The appeal is straightforward: it's active, it's outdoors, and unlike staring at a screen, it actually requires you to think. Families with children aged six upwards tend to get the most from it. Teenagers often find it a bit too simple, whilst adults either embrace the mild embarrassment of getting lost or treat it like a military operation.

The maze operates seasonally - typically summer months - so check the website before you go, as opening dates and admission fees aren't fixed year-round. It's the sort of thing that takes a couple of hours if you factor in the drive from York itself, which is only about thirty minutes away. If you're staying at The Hideaway@Baxby Manor or Ravensdale Glamping Retreats nearby, it's an easy half-day trip.

Worth doing? If you're after a break from traditional attractions and the weather's on your side, absolutely. Just don't expect to emerge looking dignified.