Pasture Dale Plantation

You'll find yourself in proper woodland once you push past the entrance to Pasture Dale Plantation, just outside Driffield. It's a working forest rather than a manicured country estate - tall conifers dominate the canopy, with decent walking tracks cutting through. The light gets filtered and green, which is rather nice on a bright day but can feel a touch gloomy when clouds roll in.

Walkers will get the most from this. There's enough woodland to stretch your legs for a good hour or two without feeling like you're going in circles, and the forest floor is mostly firm underfoot. Families with young children might find it a bit samey after thirty minutes - there aren't obvious viewpoints or attractions within the trees, just the simple fact of being surrounded by conifers. History enthusiasts should probably look elsewhere; this is plantation forestry, not ancient woodland.

If you're staying at Yapham Holds Farmhouse Glamping nearby (just 6 miles away), it makes a reasonable walk-off-breakfast sort of outing. The place is free to access as far as we can tell, though there's no visitor centre or facilities to speak of. Best visited in autumn or spring when the undergrowth isn't too thick and midges aren't out in force. On a damp day in summer it can feel a bit oppressive. Worth the detour if you need a proper forest walk within easy reach of Driffield, but don't expect drama or views.