With three impressive National Parks - North York Moors National Park, Yorkshire Dale's National Park, and Peak District National Park – covering nearly 2,000 square miles, the county of Yorkshire is blessed with countless opportunities for enjoying wild, open spaces and discovering little-known beauty spots.
Whether it’s a riverside stroll or a longer hike you are seeking, Yorkshire really is a paradise for those who love getting out and enjoying the great outdoors with a breathtaking walk, so we’ve put together some of the finest woodland walks this area has to offer.
Yorkshire Dales
The Yorkshire Dales National Park encompasses some 900 square miles of moors, valleys, woodlands, and picturesque towns and villages. It’s a place of contrasting moods, it can feel vast and untamed on the wild and windswept uplands but also sheltered and peaceful in the valleys with their ancient woodlands, tumbling rivers, and spectacular waterfalls.
Strid Woods, Bolton Abbey Estate, Wharfedale
Best for: Wheel-friendly paths
• Terrain: Oak woodland, riverside paths, accessible paths
• Facilities: Car park, toilets, café, gift shop
Strid Woods was first opened to the public by the then Duke of Devonshire in 1810 and these days is thought of as one of the most popular and accessible woodlands in Yorkshire.
Shady paths run alongside the River Wharfe through one of the largest areas of oak woodlands in the region. At one point, that calm water is forced through a narrow rocky gorge known as the Strid, a stunningly beautiful spot that’s considered a real natural wonder by visitors.
The woods are renowned for their flora and fauna, with bluebells in flower in late April and early May, followed by billows of wild garlic. The dense forest is also home to a myriad of wildlife including roe deer, otters, kingfisher and greater spotted woodpecker.
A wide range of walks are available from easy riverside strolls that are also wheelchair and pushchair friendly to more strenuous hikes over rougher terrain through the ominously named Valley of Desolation!
The estate also includes the enigmatic ruins of the 12th-century Bolton Abbey and there are several cafés and tea rooms where drinks, meals, and snacks are on offer.
Fishponds Woods, Upper Nidderdale
Best for: Autumnal displays
• Terrain: Beech woods, lakeside
• Facilities: Car park, some accessible paths
Fishpond Wood is part of the Nidderdale Way, a 53-mile walk that was once an extensive network of pleasure gardens built for the Yorke family of Bewerley Hall, which was demolished in 1925.
Fishpond Wood, along with Skrikes Wood and Ravengsill, reflect the ‘picturesque’ movement, which promoted landscaped gardens that were made to appear natural or even wild.
These woodlands are a wonderful place to absorb the changing of the seasons, especially the vibrant autumnal colours reflected in the waters of the pond, which is often busy with birdlife.
The woods feature on the Bewerley Tree Trail walk, which takes roughly an hour from nearby Pateley Bridge where there is ample convenient parking and a range of shops and cafés.
Middleton Woods, Middleton
Best for: Steam train rides
• Terrain: Ancient woodland
• Facilities: Toilets, café, visitor’s centre, car park
Middleton Woods is the largest area of ancient woodland in the Yorkshire Dales, covering about 200 acres. It is known to have been continuously wooded since at least 1600, meaning there are many grand, well-established trees to enjoy, while archaeological remains in the area date back to the 14th century.
Situated just on the outskirts of Leeds, this nature reserve makes a wonderful escape, especially for children who will love exploring the many paths, searching for bugs and flowers beneath the canopy.
The woods boast a wide range of trees including beech, hazel, sycamore, birch and sweet chestnut and these are home to populations of birds and small mammals including friendly squirrels.
Close by is the world’s oldest railway, Middleton Railway, which enables you to ride on wonderful old steam trains. Enjoy a 25-minute round trip from Moor Park right to the edge of Middleton Woods!
Richmond to Easby Abbey
Best for: A walk through history
• Terrain: Historic ruins, riverside, waterfalls
• Facilities: Toilets, car park, pubs, cafés
Starting in the historic town of Richmond with its wonderful Norman Castle, this walk follows the River Swale to the fascinating ruins of Easby Abbey, one of the best-preserved monasteries in Britain, founded in about 1152.
Covering a distance of about 4 miles, the route leads from the town, passing beneath the walls of the castle before following the Swale through woodland, passing weirs and waterfalls to reach the abbey. The return is made via an old disused railway line, which offers lovely views of Richmond Castle as you make your way back to the town.
Hackfall Woods, Grewelthorpe
Best for: Waterfalls and historic remnants
• Terrain: Waterfalls, broadleaf woodland, historic ruins
• Facilities: Car park
Managed by the Woodland Trust, Hackfall Woods covers nearly 120 acres of ancient semi-natural woodland within a steep, rocky gorge along the River Ure. Although the woods appear entirely natural, they were actually part of an 18th-century, beautified, landscaped environment and so amongst the trees you will spot a number of strange stone temples, underground grottos, and follies.
A major restoration of the woodlands and its unusual features was undertaken in 2007, returning this place to something of its former glory. There are fountains and waterfalls to discover and several different trails to follow in order to explore this intriguing place.
Guisecliff Woods and Tarn, Glasshouses
Best for: Lakeside views
• Terrain: Broadleaf woodland, countryside views, lakeside
• Facilities: Village car parking
A network of zigzagging paths lead through lush green woodlands up to the glassy, clear waters of Guise Tarn.
Take a 3-mile circular walk from the village of Glasshouses up to this stunning hilltop lake, enjoying the peaceful woodland surroundings as you go.
North Yorkshire
Interspersed among the peaks and valleys of North Yorkshire are breathtaking landscapes, open waterways, and distinctive market towns, each with their own individual personality and charm.
Ingleton Waterfalls Trail, Ingleton
Best for: Rare plant spotting
• Terrain: Waterfalls, oak woodland, limestone landscape
• Facilities: Car park, toilets, electric vehicle charging points, café, picnic areas
If you are looking for Mother Nature at her finest then the Ingleton Waterfalls Trail is for you!
A well-defined circular route, open all year round, runs as close to the edge of the two rivers as possible in the stunning landscape to provide spectacular views of the various waterfalls along the way. These falls include the breathtaking 14m-high Thornton Force Falls.
The signposted walk is around 4 miles long and, depending on your pace or how often you stop to take photographs, it takes between 2 and 4 hours to complete. With rare and interesting plants and wildlife and its importance as a geological site, much of the Ingleton Waterfalls Trail has been designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest by Natural England.
Nidd Gorge
Best for: Wildlife watching
• Terrain: Oak woodland, wildlife, riverside, gorge
• Facilities: Car park
The deep river gorge of Nidd Valley carved through the local sandstone thousands of years ago during the last Ice Age and now provides a sheltered spot for a dramatic riverside walk. Water has truly sculpted this landscape and the River Nidd gushes around the rocky bends and over boulders within the walls of the 120ft deep gorge.
The woodland that clings to the edges of the gorge is actually made up of five woods, Coalpits Wood, Bilton Banks, Spring Wood, Scotton Banks and Gates Wood, all ancient areas dating back to at least the 16th century.
The whole area is a nature lover’s delight with more than 80 species of birds and 30 different kinds of mammals, reptiles and amphibians recorded, including bats, roe deer, tawny owls, herons and spotted and green woodpeckers. There are also numerous plants and wildflowers species, which include an incredible 91 different fungi and nine types of ferns!
Dalby Forest
Best for: Stargazing
• Terrain: Woodland, walking trails, accessible paths, Dark Sky Discovery Site
• Facilities: Car park, visitors centre, toilets, café, activities, cycle hire
Covering a massive 8,500 acres of the North York Moors, Dalby Forest has something for everyone and space for all.
There are 16 walking trails, many of which are accessible, six cycle trails, and four running trails, and whatever the season there is always something new to see. There are orienteering activities for children, the Gruffalo Party Trail to follow, and regular music events to enjoy during the summer months.
The park is also a designated Dark Skies Discovery Site because of the amazing quality of the skies for stargazing and, if you fancy an evening adventure, you can join one of the guided tours to learn about the wonders of the universe.
Aysgarth Woods and Waterfalls Circular
Best for: Magical waterfalls
• Terrain: Woodland, riverside, waterfalls
• Facilities: Car park, toilets
This trail is popular with walkers because of the stunning views of the spectacular Aysgarth Falls on the River Ure. The falls tumble over limestone for nearly a mile and include the High Force, Middle Force, and Lower Force falls and are seen at their best after recent rain.
This stretch of river has been a great source of inspiration for artists but perhaps most famously featured in the Blockbuster movie Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves starring Kevin Costner. Many will remember the Hollywood actor getting a dunking from Little John in these beautiful falls!
The circular route takes the walker through about 3 miles of peaceful countryside, up through the woodlands, and back following the course of the river. Keep your eyes peeled for the views of Bolton Castle in the distance.
Fountains Abbey Ancient Trees Walk
Best for: History and natural beauty
• Terrain: Parkland, woodland, ancient trees, historic ruins
• Facilities: Car park, toilets, plant shop, café, electric vehicle charging point
The ancient ruins of Fountains Abbey and its water gardens are a UNESCO World Heritage Site now cared for by the National Trust and a real highlight of the region. The circular Ancient Tree Walk has been designed to take the walker on a tour of the historic deer park, where an estimated 300 deer - sika, fallow, and red – graze, taking in some of the oldest trees in the area.
The route passes ancient sweet chestnuts, a wonderful lime avenue, a cherry tree reputedly the largest in Britain and a ‘Champion Oak’, acknowledged as one of the largest in the UK.
After your walk, you can enjoy the incredible abbey ruins, which are some of the largest and best preserved in the country, before treating yourself to a delicious treat in the café.
South Yorkshire
Once the region’s industrial heartland, South Yorkshire has transformed into a hotspot for music, sport, and culture. Beyond these attractions and wonderful traditional pubs, the countryside has much to offer the enthusiastic walker.
Sheffield Round Walk
Best for: Something a little different
• Terrain: Woodland, parkland, fields
• Facilities: Car parking
The Sheffield Round Walk is a 15-mile loop from the urban to the rural at the southwestern edges of the city – taking in leafy parkland, woodland streams, and pretty suburbs. This is a walk for those really wanting to stretch their legs and takes the whole day to complete, although it can be broken into smaller sections.
The walk, which is signposted, connects central Sheffield with its surrounding countryside, showcasing the natural beauty, greenery, and wildlife that the city is lucky to have within its boundaries. It starts and ends at Endcliffe Park, a popular spot near the bustling independent cafés, pubs, and shops of Ecclesall and Sharrow Vale Roads. From here, the route continues alongside rivers – the Porter Brook and the Limb Brook; between trees at Ecclesall, Ladies Spring, Chancet and Brincliffe Edge Woods; past sights like 16th-century Shepherd Wheel, Mayfield Alpacas, medieval Beauchief Abbey and Bishops’ House; and across Graves, Meersbrook and Chelsea Parks.
Hawksworth Woods Circular
Best for: A mix of beautiful vistas
• Terrain: Broadleaf woodland
• Facilities: Car park, pubs nearby
Hawksworth Woods covers just over 8 acres and is nestled between Hawksworth, Kirkstall, and Horsforth, not far from Leeds city centre. This beautiful area is known as ‘The Hawk’ by locals and a 6-mile circular walk takes in many of the pretty sights of Hawksworth Wood, Kirkstall Abbey, Hunger Hills, and the River Aire.
For those looking for a more relaxed amble, the woods themselves are perfect for a wander and hide an interesting past. Hawksworth was given its name by the monks at the nearby Kirkstall Abbey who used its resource for shelter, fuel, and building resources. There was also once a quarry here and there are still plenty of mossy boulders in amongst the trees.
Moss Valley Woodlands Nature Reserve
Best for: Bird and bug life
• Terrain: Oak woodlands, bluebells
• Facilities: Car park
Tucked away just outside Sheffield, Moss Valley is a beautiful, ancient woodland carpeted in bluebells, sweet woodruff, and wood anemone in spring and early summer. Majestic beech and oaks tower overhead as you follow the network of footpaths and bridleways between the trees.
Another defining feature of these woodlands is the Moss Brook, which flows eastwards for about 5 miles before entering the River Rother near Eckington. Its banks make the perfect place for a picnic, so make sure to pack some goodies from the local farm shops. There are areas of marshlands and ponds here too, which attract a wide range of bird and bug life perfect for budding biologists.
Inspired to explore Yorkshire? Browse our beautiful holiday cottages in this gorgeous corner of the UK and start planning your perfect escape into ‘God’s Own Country’.
