Dalby Forest

Billed as 'The Great Yorkshire Forest', the Forestry Commission's Dalby Forest packs an awful lot of punch when it comes to hiking, biking and outdoor activities. Mountain-bikers especially love it here – it's become a world-class biking centre, with a tricksy World Cup route to negotiate alongside several other well-marked trails and a bike skills zone at Dixon's Hollow. A dozen other waymarked trails are for family walks as well as more challenging outings, including the famous walk to the spectacular, weather-sculpted sandstone outcrops known as the Bridestones. Best place to start is the Visitor Centre, which has a really good café with seating on an outdoor deck. There are exhibitions downstairs, plus a shop where you can buy trail guides and get hold of a useful forest map. In the nearby 'courtyard' area  you'll find bike rental and craft workshops, while the forest also has a Go Ape outlet, for zip-wire fun in the trees, and a dedicated activity centre for everything from archery to paintballing.