7 Nice places to walk
Sometimes going out can just be a nice stroll around our lovely countryside or special places. Grab yourself a pick nick, get your walking boots and adventure to one of these locations :-)
With an orienteering course, trimtrail, sculpture trail and play areas, Guisborough is a great place for a family day out. If you climb the heights of Highcliff Nab or Hanging Stone on a fine day you will be rewarded by fantastic views over Teeside and the coast.
The Rat of the Highway is here!
The Highway Rat is the latest Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler book to be brought to life on our forest trails. Follow the panels, complete activities and interact with the forest as you head on a journey with The Highway Rat and all the characters from the story!
Highway Rat trail dates and information
It is aimed at younger children, but the whole family can enjoy completing activities and spotting characters. You can find the start of the trail at Pinchinthorpe visitor centre and it is about 1 mile in length.
Activity Pack
Join the Highway Rat on his journey through the forest with the Highway Rat Activity Pack! The pack contains an activity leaflet plus an extra activity sheet, a Highway Rat mask, stickers of the Highway Rat characters, a pencil and a crayon. Buy your activity pack from Pinchinthorpe visitor centre for just £3.
Thorp Perrow is a contemporary estate with traditional values, incorporating arable and livestock farming; ancient woodlands; a beautiful Arboretum open to the public; commercial and residential opportunities and a strong link to the heritage sector.
Family Fun Days
There’s lots to do for children of all ages at Thorp Perrow. Run wild and free in the adventure play area, meet exotic birds and animals in the Bird of Prey & Mammal centre and explore the secret hideaways hidden thought-out the arboretum. Keep your eyes peeled for our fun trails and family event days.
Ancient abbey ruins and an awe-inspiring water garden at this World Heritage Site
For centuries people have been drawn to this inspiring place.
From humble beginnings the magnificent abbey was established by devout monks seeking a simpler existence. The atmospheric ruins that remain are a window into a way of life which shaped the medieval world.
When the socially ambitious John Aislabie inherited Studley Royal, he set about creating an elegant water garden of mirror-like ponds, statues and follies, incorporating the romantic ruins into his design.
Green lawns stretch down to the riverside, a perfect spot for a picnic. Riverside paths lead to the deer park, home to Red, Fallow and Sika deer and ancient trees; limes, oaks, and sweet chestnuts.
One-of-a-kind, this special place is now recognised as a World Heritage Site.
Explore dramatic moorland rock formations
The natural spectacle of Brimham Rocks, with its giant rock formations, was created by an immense river 100 million years before the first dinosaurs walked the earth, and a visit to this amazing landscape is truly a journey into pre-history.
The rocks, sculpted by 320 million years of ice, wind, and the movement of entire continents, have taken on weird and wonderful shapes and with a little imagination, they resemble familiar creatures. Visitors are free to explore the site, spotting the Dancing Bear, the Gorilla, the Eagle and the Turtle, whilst the more nimble can crawl through the Smartie Tube and balance on the Rocking Stones.
Some of the most iconic rock formations can be viewed only 10 minutes’ walk from the car park, and it takes around four hours to explore all of this fascinating site, with its enduring landscape and carefully managed environment.
Brimham Rocks and its heather moorland are both Sites of Special Scientific Interest and are a magnet for geologists, naturalists, climbers and walkers, as well as families who love the freedom to explore this amazing place.
There's a brand new fabulous play area outside, using natural landscape features to provide a place for adventure and fun for younger children.
Come and enjoy two quirky treehouses, a stone castle, three magical stone roundhouses, the large sandpit with a 'play tree' in the centre, a mud kitchen, go log clambering over the 'swamp' and enjoy den building.
Experience England's finest view
A stroll along the wheelchair-accessible path from the Centre to the sensational viewpoint is a must or go south along the dramatic escarpment to the famous Kilburn White Horse.
Walking around Sutton Bank
The booklet Walks around Sutton Bank has five glorious walks from the Centre. The guide will help you unearth the deeper story of the rich landscapes beneath your feet. Available to purchase in the Centre.
Cod Beck Reservoir - (Free parking + designated disable spaces)
Located in the North Yorkshire Moors National park.
The scenic route around the reservoir is surrounded by woodland, interlaced with well established walking routes. The route itself has recently been upgraded and now hosts a path contacting a new bridge over the stream. The old steps have also been replaced by path making the route completely wheelchair and buggy friendly.
The disabled friendly route is around 2 miles from start to finish. There are lots of benches and picnic benches along the route.
Roseberry Topping
One of the most distinctive shaped hills that can be viewed from miles around. If you like a challenge why not walk to the top of Roseberry Topping?! There's a bench midway up to rest but most people sit and rest at various locations to the top.
Once at the top the views are amazing. I assure you that getting down is much easier than getting up :-)
The paid parking facility is equipped with a toilet and is managed by North Yorkshire Moores National Park. The pinpoint on the map is a location of free designated parking.