Walk with a Ranger

One of the best ways to see the National Park is to join one of the regular Ranger-led guided walks – the programme runs from Easter until the beginning of November, and the walks cover all corners of the park, from east to west. They are mostly two- to three-hour strolls (though some are much longer) in small groups of up to 15 people, which gives you plenty of scope to fire off questions and find out more about the local curiosities, from Roman camps to rustic medieval churches. Sometimes the walks are with a particular specialist in their field – like butterfly conservation, archeology, or moorland management. At other times, the rewards are simply fresh air, views and the company of like-minded people. Go at different times of the year and you'll be either up to your neck in wild daffs and bluebells or, at the end of summer, dramatic purple heather. You need to book in advance (by phone or in person) at either Danby or Sutton Bank National Park visitor centres, but the meeting points for the walks are located all over the park. Amazingly, the walks are free – we think that's pretty terrific.