Oglethorpe Whin Covert

The walk into Oglethorpe Whin Covert is deceptively simple - a flat, easy trail that winds through mature woodland just outside Tadcaster. What you get is proper peace and quiet, the kind of place where the only sound is your feet on the path and birdsong filtering through the canopy. It's not dramatic or vast; this is intimate woodland rather than sprawling forest.

You're really here for the walk itself. The covert rewards a gentle ramble - bring binoculars if you're into birdwatching, as the woodland supports a decent variety of species. Families with younger legs won't struggle with the terrain, though there's not much in the way of facilities or attractions once you're in. Allow 45 minutes to an hour if you're dawdling and actually paying attention to your surroundings.

Walkers passing through Tadcaster on the way to bigger attractions will find this a worthwhile detour. It's the sort of place that reminds you Yorkshire's countryside isn't all moorland - pockets of proper English woodland still exist. If you're based at Wighill Park Glamping nearby, this makes a solid morning or afternoon stroll before settling in for the evening.

The covert works best as part of a broader walk rather than a destination in itself. Come here to stretch your legs between visiting the town's Georgian architecture or heading towards the larger parks in the region. Don't expect facilities or signage - this is old-school woodland access.