Howell Wood

The woodland around Howell stretches across West Yorkshire with genuine appeal if you're after a proper forest walk without the tourist crowds. It's the kind of place where you'll actually see people walking dogs and families pottering about on weekend afternoons - not Instagram photographers staking out the perfect angle.

The wood itself offers decent woodland trails through mixed trees. On a decent day the light filters through the canopy nicely, and you get that satisfying sense of being away from things even though Wakefield's only a short drive off. The paths are manageable for most fitness levels, though muddy patches emerge after rain - nothing dramatic, just the realities of a working woodland.

Walkers will find value here. Children can burn off energy running between the trees, though there's no play equipment or facilities to speak of, so come prepared. It's not the sort of destination you'd plan a day around, but if you're based at Nostell Priory Holiday Park or staying nearby in Wakefield, it's a solid option for a couple of hours when the weather's half decent.

The real strength is its lack of bells and whistles. No admission fees, no visitor centre, no cafe trying to sell you overpriced coffee. Just woodland doing what woodland does. Go early to avoid other people if that's your preference, or frankly any time suits because it rarely gets rammed. Allow two to three hours depending on which routes you take and how often you stop to breathe in the forest air.