Wold Plantation

The trees here are genuinely impressive - dark conifers standing shoulder to shoulder across sloping ground that gives you proper views across the Wolds when you break through the canopy. Wold Plantation is a working forest near Malton, the sort of place you'd stumble into while exploring the surrounding countryside rather than plan a dedicated trip around.

It's a walker's spot, mainly. There are paths threading through the plantation - nothing dramatic, but peaceful enough if you want an hour or so among the trees without the crowds of the honeypot forests further west. The ground can get muddy after rain, so proper boots matter. You won't find facilities or visitor centres here; it's just woodland. Depending on which way you head in, you can link up with other walking routes across the Wolds, which makes it useful for building a longer day out.

Families with younger kids might find it a bit samey after twenty minutes. There's no playground nonsense or interactive bits, which is either a relief or a disappointment depending on your mood. Serious hikers and landscape photographers will get more from it - the light filtering through the conifers can be lovely on a clear morning, and the high points give you sightlines across proper open countryside.

If you're staying at one of the glamping spots nearby - Yorkshire Wolds Glamping and Wolds Walk Glamping are both within spitting distance - Wold Plantation makes a decent half-day walk without having to drive anywhere. It's free and open to the public, though opening hours aren't published because there aren't any. Go when the mood takes you.