Fanny Bell Gill Wood

A stretch of proper woodland that sits just outside Northallerton, Fanny Bell Gill Wood isn't going to set your heart racing, but it's exactly the kind of place you duck into when you've got an hour to kill and want your feet on soft ground instead of tarmac. The trees are dense enough to feel like actual forest - oak and beech mostly - with a network of paths that wind through without too much faffing about trying to work out which way you came in.

It's best suited to families with younger kids or casual walkers rather than serious hikers. The paths are manageable, nothing steep or technical, and you won't need proper boots. You could comfortably spend ninety minutes here without rushing, though some people will find it dull after forty minutes if they're expecting dramatic scenery. The wood does what it's meant to do - provides a bit of greenery, some shelter from wind, and lets you breathe properly after pottering round Northallerton town centre.

If you're staying at Whorlton Pods nearby, this is a sensible add-on rather than a destination in itself. Go early morning when it's quieter and you might spot something decent wildlife-wise. There's no visitor centre or facilities that I could find, so come prepared with water and use the loo before you arrive. Free to access, year-round, though it's least muddy in summer and honestly rather grim in February.