Discover Yorkshire's Dalby Forest

Spread over 8,000 acres within the North York Moors National Park, Dalby Forest offers stunning vistas, exciting adventures and relaxing glades where you can immerse yourself in nature. With the turning of the seasons, watch as the forests change hue, from a carpet of bluebells in spring to the gently falling golden leaves of autumn.

The carefully mapped cycling and walking trails guide you around the most scenic spots and the sympathetically designed playparks and children’s activities make sure the little ones are entertained.

The Visitor’s Centre is the beating heart, providing information, help and of course a tempting café to refuel. Read on to discover why Dalby Forest is the ‘go-to’ destination for your next holiday and browse our range of cottages in the North York Moors to find your perfect base.

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• Dalby Forest Visitor Centre
• Dalby Forest walks
• Cycling at Dalby Forest
• Dalby Forest for families
• More things to do at Dalby Forest
• Getting to Dalby Forest

Dalby Forest Visitor Centre

Image credit: Crown copyright/Forestry England

Swing by the Dalby Forest Visitor Centre to orient yourself and help you see the woods from the trees. The cheery staff can provide information on all the facilities, trails and events available during your visit. The centre is dog-friendly and fully accessible with all-terrain mobility vehicles available to hire here so everyone, including four-legged friends, can enjoy a day out in the forest.

There’s also a great range of local products on sale in the gift shop, including Beco dog toys, Bracken Hill preserves, wildlife books and funky gifts. Kids will love the toys that enhance their visit, such as binoculars, bows and arrows and footballs. You can also let them explore the Grandfather Oak play area just outside, with play equipment and trees to climb while you enjoy a cuppa.

Talking of which, it’s also home to the Dalby Forest Cafe, which offers gorgeous soups and salads, afternoon teas and cream teas as well as cracking cakes. Whether it’s a sweet treat or a more substantial meal, call by here for some well-earned sustenance. There’s also piping hot Costa coffee to warm you up on chillier days.

Dalby Forest walks

There are Dalby Forest walks for all ages and abilities with waymarked trails that are handily colour-coded so that you can find the most suitable routes for you. There is plenty of space for everyone so you won’t have to worry about trails becoming too crowded so lace up your walking boots to discover the peaceful joy of the forest on foot in some of our favourite walks.

Staindale Lake

Staindale Lake walk is easy and on flat terrain, making it accessible for mobility vehicles. The gentle stroll takes you right around the pretty lake, which is buzzing with wildlife. The dam at the west end is a great place to munch on sandwiches as you gaze into the tranquil blue waters. Look out for the Dragonfly sculpture during this easy-access trail.

Sneverdale Rigg Rabbit Run

Sneverdale Rigg Rabbit Run is a steadily sloped route around the forest which takes you past the Go Ape high ropes course and still features the remains of a ‘rabbit type’, from when rabbits were farmed in the forest. It’s now a scheduled monument that is marked by a red-topped pole. The walk takes you up a hill where you’ll be rewarded with a wonderful view at the summit – get out the binoculars to spot deer grazing in the distance.  

Jerry Noddle Viewpoint

The Jerry Noddle trail will take you around a wooded headland on the northern edge of Dalby Forest. It has the treat of a superb sculpture at the midway point, called The Winged Sheep Aedicula. It’s carved from a block of sandstone and references the rock carvings of the Nabateans. It’s situated at an excellent viewing spot with the panorama of Upper Langdale Valley below – art and nature in a double whammy.

Cycling at Dalby Forest

If you want to pick up the pace, get pedalling! There are lots of well-signposted cycling trails all around the Forest, colour-coded in terms of difficulty. Head to Dalby Forest Cycle Hub for everything bike-related, including bike hire (lots of electric and adapted bikes available), advice, accessories and mountain bike lessons for kids and adults alike. If you’ve got your own bike, you can power wash the mud off here before you leave.

Ellerburn Green Trail

The Ellerburn Green Trail is a gentle circular half-hour jaunt that’s perfect for families as the majority of it is paved, crossing the Thornton Beck stream and winding its way through the forest and over Thornton Dale. The multi-use pathway is perfect for prams and pushchairs and it’s a great choice for younger children who are learning to ride a bike.

Jubilee Blue Trail

Jubilee Blue Trail is a great one to test out your mountain bike skills, as it takes in off-road sections and berms, or steeply banked corners, as well as a challenging zig-zagging descent. You’ll ride through the Jubilee Plantation part of Dalby Forest with amazing valley views across Low Dalby. The ride also passes by the Ellerburn trail with three small loops that increase in difficulty as you move along them.

Adderstone Green Loop

Image credit: Crown copyright/Forestry England 

Adderstone Green Loop is a pedal-powered adventure for young and old alike that takes you around the top of the forest plateau and through Adderstone’s Field, where the nippers can enjoy a spell at the play area where there is lots of space for ball games. There are two versions of the trail available with the longer route taking you by the Crosscliff Wood and Jerry Noddle Viewpoints where you can stop for a picnic and to rest your legs.

Dalby Forest for families

Introduce your children to the joys of being in nature with some interactive fun so forests become a place of wonder and discovery. There’s plenty to keep little ones entertained on a day out at dog-friendly Dalby Forest so the whole family can spend quality time together.

Gruffalo Trail

So many treasured children’s books are set in a forest, as it’s such a magical location. The Gruffalo trail at Dalby Forest brings that magic alive for little ones (ideal for those aged 8 and under). Just pick up a map from the Visitors Centre and head off into the ‘dark, dark wood’ to spot 12 Gruffalo-themed markers for an entertaining walk around the forest.

Go Ape

Make like a monkey and climb up to the treetops with Go Ape's adventure experiences at Dalby Forest. There are two challenges depending on your head for heights – the Treetop Challenge is 35 metres up, where you’re clipped in and make your way along high wires and down zip lines, and the Treetop Adventure is safely at ground level but still gives you a flavour of navigating among the trees.

Grandfather Oak play area

Image credit: Crown copyright/Forestry England

This fun adventure playground features wooden teepees, climbing frames and the chance for little ones to build their own dens in a wild play area. Even better the Grandfather Oak play area is located right next to the visitor centre at Dalby Forest with outdoor cafe seating available so you can enjoy a coffee and cake while they burn off some energy.

More things to do at Dalby Forest

Image credit: Astro Dog

As well as nature in abundance, there’s also art to be sampled in Dalby Forest. You can find artist Rachel Whiteread’s sculpture Nissan Hut in Adderstone, 5 miles from the Visitor Centre, and there are sculpture trails, craft fairs, art exhibitions and workshops planned over the year. Check out the website to see what’s coming up during your visit.

Forest Live

Dalby Forest is also part of the national ‘Forest Live’ music events, which sees big names in music such as Paloma Faith and Bryan Adams performing in the natural amphitheatre in the woods. Sign up to find out about upcoming concerts.

Stargazing

As night falls, don’t go back to the car, look up and see what the heavens have to offer. There are regular fascinating stargazing events at the Dalby Forest planetarium, where you can discover constellations, planets and galaxies with the help of Astro Dog.

Getting to Dalby Forest

Dalby Forest is on the southern side of the superb North York Moors, making it a great stepping-off point to explore the area. Along with Langdale Forest and Cropton Forest, Dalby Forest makes up the North Riding Forest Park.  On the map you can see vast expanses of unspoilt countryside interspersed by the occasional road, proving just how remote it is – it’s a real opportunity to ‘get away from it all’ here.

Places to stay near Dalby Forest

Whether you fancy a simple dog walk, a run, a cycle or even a tiptoe through the treetops, Dalby Forest has it all. There’s so much to do you’ll want to return again and again. The nearest town is Pickering, where there are lots of things to do, and the closest village is Thornton-le-Dale, one of the prettiest places in Yorkshire.

There are plenty of appealing properties to choose from throughout the surrounding North York Moors National Park, so you’ll be sure to find your perfect home from home.