Gateforth Wood

A 20-minute drive south from Selby gets you to Gateforth Wood, a proper working forest that feels miles from anywhere even though it sits right on North Yorkshire's doorstep. This isn't some manicured nature reserve - it's a genuine woodland managed for timber, which means you get the real thing: dense trees, forest floor, the lot. Walking trails wind through and the light filters down in that way only old trees can manage. The tracks are well-trodden but occasionally muddy depending on weather, so proper boots aren't a bad shout.

It's the kind of place serious walkers come to clear their heads rather than tick off a postcard view. Kids will either love tramping about finding sticks and investigating whatever wildlife they can spot, or get restless after 40 minutes - depends entirely on the child. There's something genuinely restorative about it though, especially if you've been doing the roundabout of tourist attractions. No visitor centre, no facilities that I could spot, just trees and space.

The nearest accommodation is Apple Blossom Caravan and Camping just five miles away, which makes this a solid addition to a park-based holiday in the region if you want a proper woodland walk without having to drive hours. Allow a couple of hours if you're making a proper morning of it, less if you just fancy a quick circuit. Free to visit, naturally - it's working forest, not a tourist trap.