Northallerton

The high street has seen better days, but Northallerton's position as North Yorkshire's county town still carries weight. This market town sits smack in the middle of some seriously good countryside, making it a proper launching pad for the Yorkshire Dales and North York Moors.

Market day brings life to the cobbled squares. The rest of the week it's pleasantly quiet, though the Georgian architecture along the main drag deserves more than a passing glance. Northallerton's real appeal lies in what surrounds it - rolling countryside dotted with ancient woodlands like Bank Wood and Charlotte Wood, perfect for afternoon walks when you need to stretch your legs.

Howe Hill and Bracken Hill offer decent views across the Vale of Mowbray, though they're hardly challenging climbs. The network of woods - from Swine Park to Old Leven Wood - creates a lovely patchwork of green that's brilliant for dog walking or just getting away from the A1's constant hum.

Getting here is dead easy. The A1 runs right past, and the train station connects directly to London and Edinburgh. It's that accessibility that makes the nearby holiday parks such a smart choice - you're central to everything North Yorkshire has to offer without the tourist crowds of Harrogate or York.

Staying at one of the local parks gives you proper flexibility. Twenty minutes north and you're in proper Dales territory. Half an hour east and the North York Moors open up. Northallerton itself might not set pulses racing, but as a base for exploring this corner of Yorkshire, it's spot on.