Woodland Ravine

The ravine cuts through the landscape like something the earth decided to do properly - steep wooded sides, a stream running at the bottom, and paths that wind through canopy so thick you'd swear it was twilight at noon. It's a genuine breath of fresh air just a couple of miles from Scarborough's seafront chaos.

This is woodland as it should be: ancient trees, moss on everything, the sound of water underneath it all. You're walking through proper North Yorkshire countryside, not manicured parks. The paths are decent enough underfoot, though they're narrow and root-strewn in places - wear decent shoes and don't come expecting a stroll.

Families with older kids (eight plus) will get the most from it. Younger ones find it either brilliant or tedious depending on their tolerance for "are we there yet?" The geology enthusiasts will appreciate what the ravine actually shows you about the landscape, and walkers just after some woodland without the crowds will find exactly that.

It's the sort of spot you'd build into a morning if you're based at one of the nearby holiday parks - Prospect House Farm or Parkdean Resorts Cayton Bay are your closest options for glamping and caravanning. Allow an hour for a decent wander. There's no visitor centre or facilities to speak of, so it's just you, the trees, and the stream.

Combine it with Scarborough's beaches or Filey's gentler coastline for a proper day out. The ravine is free and always open - it's a working nature reserve rather than a visitor attraction with opening hours and gates.