Juniper Gill Plantation

The walk into Juniper Gill Plantation starts gently enough from the Leyburn side, but the forest floor gets properly boggy once you're past the first mile. You're threading through mixed woodland - mostly conifers with some deciduous trees scattered in - and the canopy closes in quickly. The gill itself (that's a Yorkshire stream, if you're not local) runs cold and clear through the middle, and if you time it right after heavy rain, there's a decent bit of water moving through.

It's a working plantation rather than a manicured attraction, so don't expect marked trails or facilities. You need to pick your way carefully, and good boots are non-negotiable. The path can be hard to follow in places, especially where fallen branches cluster. That said, walkers will find it rewarding - there's a real sense of being somewhere that hasn't been tidied up for visitors.

This isn't a spot for young children or anyone after an easy stroll. Give yourself a good two hours if you're doing a proper exploration, maybe longer if you want to follow the gill upstream. The light filters through the trees in that particular greenish way that only happens in coniferous forests, and on a quiet weekday you'll likely have the place to yourself.

If you're staying at Yorkshire Dales Holiday Park just outside Leyburn, this makes a solid half-day walk from your base. It's the kind of place that appeals to photography types and anyone after something a bit wilder than the manicured dales walks.