Middlehead Huts

What’s it to be – the moors or the beach? Luckily they’re both close to hand. If you’d like to see them on the same day, jump aboard the North Yorkshire Moors Railway at Pickering (20 minutes’ drive) to steam across heather uplands to Whitby (40 minutes), overlooked by its dramatic Gothic-era abbey and with a choice of beaches, where you can paddle in the sea or forage for jet among the rock pools. If you’d prefer to explore on foot, there are numerous walks from the site – it takes about two hours to walk to the ruins of remote Skelton Tower. Hit Goathland (half an hour’s drive) for a family stroll up to Mallyan Spout Waterfall (15 minutes’ walk), or a longer jaunt across the moor to Simon Howe Stone Circle (50 minutes) for views across moortops to the North Sea. Kids in tow? Inspire them with a love of nature at the wildlife exhibitions in Dalby Forest Visitor Centre (35 minutes’ drive), let them try out the family-friendly mountain bike trails and then all have a go on the zipwires at Go Ape Dalby (also 35 minutes).