Bedale

Georgian terraces line the high street where time moves at a different pace entirely. This small North Yorkshire market town has kept its unhurried charm while the Yorkshire Dales stretch out beyond its edges, proper countryside that still feels lived-in rather than touristy.

Bedale's weekly market has been running since 1251, and you can still feel that history in the cobbled market square. The Church of All Saints sits at the town's heart, its tower visible from miles around across the flat Dale landscape. It's not flashy - this isn't Harrogate or York - but there's something lovely about a place that doesn't try too hard.

The real draw here is what lies just outside town. Ladybridge Lake offers decent walking, while Little Upsland Wood and Smearholme Wood provide proper rambling territory without the weekend crowds you'll find further into the Dales. Brunskay Pond might not sound exciting, but it's a cracking spot for an afternoon stroll when you want somewhere genuinely quiet.

Getting here couldn't be easier - Bedale sits right on the A684, with Thirsk just 20 minutes south for your big shops and rail connections. Northallerton's even closer if you need a proper town, but honestly, Bedale has enough pubs and cafes to keep you sorted.

Staying at one of the holiday parks scattered around town makes perfect sense. You're close enough to pop into Bedale for supplies or a pub meal, but far enough out to wake up to Yorkshire countryside views. The surrounding area has that gentle rolling landscape that's brilliant for cycling or walking without the lung-busting climbs you get deeper in the Dales.