Visitor information

Dalby Forest, in the heart of the North York Moors National Park offers the perfect place to escape, relax and adventure

Home to over 8,500 acres of breath-taking views, endless walking, running and cycle trails and Gruffalo adventures, a great day out awaits at Dalby Forest.

A visit to Dalby will uncover many magical things such as The Gruffalo orienteering course, Zog trail, some of the very best mountain biking trails and endless stunning views. Keep your eyes peeled along the way for our unique sculptures which are dotted throughout the forest, get the adrenaline pumping at Dalby Activity Centre or test your nerve and swing amongst the trees on our Go Ape courses.

Dalby Forest is home to an abundance of internationally important wildlife species and is also a designated Dark Sky Discovery Site, where you can experience the magic of seeing the Milky Way with the naked eye.

If one day leaves you wanting more, join us as a member! With heaps of benefits such as free parking, discounts in the cafe, Go Ape and Dalby Forest Cycle Hub, there's tons of reasons to join. Click here for more information.

Read Dalby Forest's accessibility guide.

At a glance

  • 13 walking trails (including easy access)
  • 6 cycling trails
  • 4 running trails
  • Visitor Centre 
  • Shop with eco friendly and exciting retail items
  • Treasure Trail 
  • Visitor Centre Cafe
  • Courtyard Cafe
  • 2 play areas
  • Go Ape 
  • Bike shop and hire, including accessible bikes
  • Activity Centre
  • Dogs welcome
  • Barbeques not permitted
  • For filming enquiries, please contact communicationsYFD@forestryengland.uk
Forest event
Sunday 8 October
10am - 3pm
Dalby Forest

Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation have teamed up with Forestry England to host this competitive series across the UK.   DEFY DALBY - Dalby Forest, Pickering North Yorkshire - 8th October 2023

SMASH SHERWOOD - Sherwood Pines, Nottinghamshire - Sunday 30th June, *2024* 

CONQUER CANNOCK - Cannock Chase, Staffordshire - Sunday 14th July, *2024*

DEFEAT DELAMERE - Delamere Forest, Cheshire -  15th September *2024*

Navigate your way through a beautiful section of the vast 8,500 acres of North York Moors National Park. As the 5km course loops inside the 10km course, you’ll have the chance to explore the multi-terrain this forest has in store.

Take on this chip-timed competitive events, challenging yourself against the clock.

Suitable for ages 14+.

Cost

5k - £25

10k - £30

Forest event
Wednesday 11 October
6:30pm - 8:30pm
Dalby Forest

Join us in the heart of Dalby Forest, on the first floor of the visitor centre, for a yoga circle that will help you connect with Visshudha, your throat chakra. We will open the circle by setting an intention to connect to our inner wisdom, and we will then move into a cacao ceremony, to help us focus and awaken.

We will then move into breathwork, yoga, and the poses will melt into a guided meditation that will take you inwards and help you let go of anything you're holding in your centre of communication. This will be followed with time to journal, share, connect with each other, and enjoy a homemade muffin and cup of herbal tea. 

Only £20 per person, book online or on the app.

Forest event
Monday 30 October
First walk starts 5:30pm, final walk starts 8pm
Dalby Forest

Are you brave enough?

Join us for the spookiest thrills, creepy crafts and ghoulishly gruesome performances on our guided Halloween trail through the trees…

Fear in the Forest is back, and this time with more spook, more ghouls and more terrifying treats!

Each walk lasts approximately 45 minutes. 

£10 per adult and £6 per child, both include booking fees.

Not suitable for children under 5 years of age (under 5’s at parental discretion, free of charge and do not require at ticket).

Forest event
Wednesday 15 November
6:30pm - 8:30pm
Dalby Forest

We all have so much to be grateful for in our lives, but in the hectic pace of today's society, it can be easy to overlook many of these.

This yoga circle will be a reset for your mind, body and spirit, enabling you to come back to your true essence and remember how much you truly have to be grateful for. The evening will consist of the opening of the circle, a cacao ceremony, some breathwork followed by some gentle yoga that will melt into a guided meditation focusing on gratitude.

There will then be time for journalling, sharing, and connecting with each other over herbal teas and homemade muffins.

£20 per person. Book your place here.

Food and drink

Dalby Forest Cafe 3

Dalby Forest Cafe

Located in the Dalby Forest Visitor Centre, the Dalby Forest Cafe is the perfect place to refuel and relax after your forest adventure. Dalby Forest Cafe offers a delicious selection of hot and cold drinks, sweet treats and both hot and cold food to replenish your senses.

Whether you've just bought your first bike, or you're happy shredding through rock gardens, Dalby Forest offers a fantastic opportunity for natural cycling. Exploring this stunning forest on two wheels will leave you grinning from ear to ear.

Based just a short walk from Adderstone Field and the World Cup Car Park, Dalby Activity Centre can host an exciting day or half day of outdoor activities including paintball, airsoft, archery and even tree climbing!

Dalby Activity Centre pride themselves on enabling people with a disability to access their activities believing that outdoor adventure should be available to everyone - so give them a ring or call in at the Centre on site to discuss any needs that you or your group may have.

Whether you're a seasoned naturalist or enthusiast amateur it's easy to take part, just start recording wildlife on your next visit...

Download the free iNaturalist app before you visit 

Discover and record wildlife through the app on your forest adventure

Download now on iOS

Download now on Android

iNaturalist is an independent third party application. Please check their full privacy policy and terms of service before signing up.

You can create records without having 4G or Wi-Fi in the forest. Download our full user guide and top tips

Forest Holidays is a picturesque location with 57 woodland cabins situated in a grassy meadow, enclosed by the leafy woodlands of Cropton Forest. With underfloor heating, log burners, incredible views and even your own outdoor hot tub, this Forest Holiday is one you aren't likely to forget.

Spend time with a dedicated Forest Ranger on location. You can plan a programme of unique experiences to discover the wonders and secrets of the forest.

Cropton is a great base for a walking holiday in North Yorkshire. With forests and moorland, hills and dales, coast and countryside, nothing can beat the variety or the views. 

Membership invitation - click to find out more about membership
Volunteer with us invitation - click to discover volunteer opportunities across England