10 stunning woodland walks in the Yorkshire Dales

Whether you feel like a gentle amble or something a bit more taxing, the Yorkshire Dales has forest trails to suit everybody's tastes.

Stump Cross Caverns sits in the lovely Nidderdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Within just 15 miles of our caves, you can find a dazzling array of woodland wanders dotted with waterfalls and rocky outcrops, ruined abbeys and reservoirs.

Here are just a few of them.

Family-friendly walks

1. Strid Wood (nine miles away)

Owned by the Bolton Abbey Estate, this ancient woodland is one of Yorkshire's most popular destinations. It has lots of different walking routes to offer, all bringing the promise of wildlife including otters, deer, woodpeckers and kingfishers.

Families will appreciate the easy circular stroll from the Cavendish Pavillion cafe, while seasoned hikers might prefer longer walks like the Barden Bridge circular.

The estate also features the mysteriously named Valley of Desolation (which has an amazing waterfall), a rocky outcrop called Simon's Seat, a river beach with stepping stones, a tower and an aqueduct.

One of the Strid Wood walking routes is pushchair and wheelchair accessible.

Pro-tip for nature lovers: the paths are especially pretty in spring when they sport a blanket of bluebells and wild garlic.

2. Fishpond Woods (five miles away)

These privately owned woods are very family-friendly, with an excellent lake in the middle where you can feed the ducks.

The woodland also boasts a 200-year-old ice house, which children will love discovering on a hot summer's day.

You can park nearby at Pateley Bridge, where there's a nice park with a playground and toilets. Stock up at the old-fashioned sweet shop before enjoying the short, manageable circular walk to the fishpond and back.

3. Parcevall Hall Gardens (four miles away)

This extraordinary terraced oasis of landscaped formal gardens and woodlands offers some stunning views across the valley.

In the 1920s, its owner Sir William Milner set about sourcing botanical specimens from around the world, so this is a nature lover's paradise. You can even arrange a tour with the head gardener!

The hall has a tea room that's open daily in the summer. It serves sandwiches, cream teas, cakes, pastries and award-winning brownies.

4. Middleton Woods (15 miles away)

This idyllic, family-friendly spot near Ilkley is blanketed with bluebells each May and holds a popular Halloween trail in October.

Middleton Woods is actually a collection of rare ancient Woodlands, featuring a stunning collection of old trees like the 500-year-old Stubham Oak – as well as a mausoleum.

Although the paths are steep and unsurfaced in places, most older children will enjoy them. Just half a mile away you'll find Ilkley riverside, with a fantastic playground and opportunities for paddling, feeding the ducks, skimming stones or enjoying a picnic on the bank.

5. Guisecliff Tarn, Glasshouses (six miles away)

This magical pool, hidden away in the heart of a hillside forest, was formed naturally by a receding glacier.

Equally exciting is the adventurous walk you'll embark on to find it. You'll ramble through glorious old woodland from Glasshouses Dam, as ancient knotty trees twist their roots out of the earth and nod their branches down towards the lake like witches' fingers. It's sure to stoke the imagination of adults and older children alike.

The tarn itself is a great place for a hard-earned picnic.

Wilder wanders

6. Gillbeck Farm Wood (four miles away)

This woodland offers spectacular views of the Vale of York and the North York Moors. It's set into a steep-sided valley that's crossed by long-distance pathways used by hikers.

This is one forest walk that's probably best reserved for fans of more challenging rambles. It certainly lacks the facilities that most of our other walks offer. But it's well worth getting a bit out of breath to reach one of its many rocky outcrops, which jut dramatically out of the landscape. 

7. Fewston Reservoir (11 miles away)

Here's a charming, four-mile stroll that provides a fairly gentle, flat amble with just the occasional bumpy bit or steeper incline. The route takes you through the woods around Fewstone, an impressive man-made lake. Along the way, you can enjoy great views down the Washburn Valley.

This beautiful site boasts a car park, plus accessible parking and toilets. There are also a few picnic tables at the water's edge, which sit on a golden sand beach studded with pine trees.

8. Brimham Rocks (10 miles away)

This site has several accessible routes and excellent facilities, including parking, toilets, a second-hand bookshop and a kiosk serving drinks and snacks. (You're welcome to bring your own refreshments to the picnic area if you prefer.)

We recommend the Boundary Walk, which circles the rocks through farmland, woodland and moorland. As you trudge, you'll be rewarded with stunning views of the countryside in every direction – and, of course, of the rocks themselves.

9. Hackfall Woods (15 miles away)

Once a popular 19th-century tourist attraction, Hackfall Woods became one of the Dales' best-kept secrets when it fell into decay a century ago.

What looks at first glance like an ancient wilderness, moulded only by time and the elements, is in fact an ornamental Victorian landscape. Here, you'll find a treasure trove of rustic, overgrown follies, including temples, grottos, glades and water features. They give the place the feel of a Hollywood fantasy film.

Walks here range from a swift half-hour stroll to a satisfying eight-mile hike. Unfortunately, the site's steep inclines mean none are wheelchair-accessible.

10. Laver Burn and Haverah Park

This beautiful landscape near Grimswith Reservoir includes several small woods. It's also home to a valuable population of migratory birds and wildfowl.

This means you have to stick to the nearby paths and keep dogs on leads, with certain areas kept off-limits to protect the wildlife.

There are fantastic walks that take in the reservoir, including a lovely five-mile circular. There's also plenty of parking at this unusual spot.

Since Stump Cross Caverns is surrounded by so many brilliant walks and activities, why not make it the starting point for your next walking holiday in the Yorkshire Dales? It's easy to book your tickets online.