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.

This 9 foot tall wooden sculpture was inspired by local historian’s tales of the 14th Century “William of Dalby”, who was permitted to keep cattle and remain in the forest for as long as he remained a hermit. An 8ft carved chair and a 4ft table with a carved spoon and knife accompany the sculpture symbolise William's hermitage.

Fantastic Riding for Everybody

Start your biking adventure at Dalby Forest Cycle Hub, your gateway to North Yorkshire's premier mountain biking destination.  Located at the epicentre of Dalby Forest, our hub offers an array of trails catering to all ages and skill levels, ensuring an unforgettable biking experience for everyone with friends, families and group bookings.

Go Ape Dalby Forest is an adventurer’s paradise. One of the great things about Dalby Forest is the sense of excitement and anticipation which builds as the course unfurls before you. The Treetop Challenge course is a high one – you’ll find yourself 35 metres up in the air so bring your head for heights. Whether pushing yourself to the max or finding your young adventurer’s feet, Dalby Forest delivers.

Dalby Forest is an outstanding Dark Skies site to see the stars, planets, nebulae and galaxies!

Our astronomy partners, Astro Dog offer exciting, interactive, stargazing sessions in the enchanting setting of Dalby Forest.  

A circular trail that takes in views of the Dalby valley. Starting from the Visitor Centre this route follows a steep gradient and bumpy forest path. Crossing at the old tennis courts the path leads further into the forest above the Ellerburn valley. This route can be extended by walking back via the Ellerburn return trail once you reach Heck Dale.

Based just a short walk from Adderstone Field and Dixon's Hollow car park, Dalby Activity Centre can host an exciting day or half day of outdoor activities including paintball, airsoft, archery and even tree climbing!

The wire Deer were created as a memorial and commemoration of a cherished colleague.

Richard Gibson, Wolds Wire was commissioned to create a sculpture which would reflect a love of the wildlife and landscape of Dalby Forest. The open wire design of the sculpture give the deer an ethereal quality – much like their real life counterparts, they blend gently into the scenery around them.

This is a longer mountain bike ride for experts only: a combination of fast flowing single track, technical features, challenging climbs and tricky descents.

You will start in Low Dalby and climb into the forest to go via Adderstone, then to Crosscliff Viewpoint for some amazing views! Eventually, heading back towards the starting point through Dalby Forest Drive and White Cliff Rigg. Lots of MTB-friendly features on the way and fantastic views.

A fast and flowing single track through varied woodland, expect rock features, steep drop off's and large rocks. Starting at Low Dalby, head up the hilly chicanes before reaching sections of rolling single track. There are some sections of technical climbing which are rewarded by a quick descent back down to Low Dalby to finish. Follow the escape route from section marker 12 back to Low Dalby through Housedale Rigg. 

Starting at the Dalby Courtyard near the Visitor Centre, the Ellerburn Trail is a multi-user pathway for disabled cyclists, walkers, and wheelchair users as well as being a safe and accessible route for children learning to ride a bike, parents with pushchairs and dog walkers. The trail runs alongside Ellerburn beck with the return of the route cutting through the Low Dalby valley.

British Cycling and Forestry England have teamed up to offer free, women-only group cycle rides for all abilities in the nation’s forests. 

Every group ride is led by a qualified Breeze into the Forest Champion who will organise everything and make sure everyone stays safe. Come along to ride, chat and of course enjoy some tea and cake from the onsite café afterwards.

This short trail goes through Deepdale in the north-east of Dalby Forest.

Deep Dale is a nature reserve sometimes called the "Forest in Miniature", because all the features found in the woodland here are replicated somewhere else in the wider Dalby Forest.

parkrun organise free, weekly, 5km timed runs around the world. They are open to everyone, free, and are safe and easy to take part in.

These events take place in pleasant forest surroundings and people of every ability are encouraged to take part. From those taking their first steps in running to Olympians; from juniors to those with more experience; everyone is welcome.

This is a route with off-road sections and flowing berms, starting in Low Dalby, via Snever Dale and Flax Dale, with a very steep and challenging descent with zigzags and berms towards the end. All the while, you will be surrounded by the forest and taking in the beautiful Jubilee Plantation.

To find out about mountain bike hire, contact Dalby Forest Cycle Hub, our on-site bike hire specialists.

Fiona Bowley began working with Dalby Forest through a series of public stone lettering workshops linked to the creation of the ongoing Dry Stone Wall Maze. From here the idea of a journey or more specifically a pilgrimage, a journey to a sacred place, was developed.

The Forest Eye is a unique, living forest feature which aims to highlight the importance of ensuring a healthy natural world for future generations to enjoy and look after.

It will be formed from 5,000 beech, alder and maple trees which have been planted in the shape of a child’s eye in the heart of Dalby Forest. As the newly planted trees mature, the 300-metre-wide eye will become fully visible from the air. This will take six years.

Buy your real Christmas tree from Whinlatter Forest, Keswick this year for a wonderful experience and the highest quality, British Christmas trees.

From 25 November daily 9.30 - 4pm. Tree sales are located along the forest road behind Cyclewise, to the rear of the Visitor Centre. (Late night opening Wednesday 6 December until 7pm - tree sales and Cafe Ambio food truck)

An intense section of single track with technical climbs and descents. The route starts in Low Dalby on the Jubilee Blue trail to then switch to the Adderstone Green trail, and eventually the Red Route, via Housedale Rigg, Heck Dale and Flax Dale. An opportunity for a good workout, fantastic views and a variety of terrain make this trail worth taking. Enjoy!

Spending time amongst the trees and really noticing nature is scientifically proven to boost our mental and physical health. Follow the trail to take a mindful walk through the forest that invites you to really relax. 

What to expect 

Themed panels along the trail will prompt you to pause, notice and connect with the forest environment around you.  

Take in fantastic views on this fast flowing route. From near Dixon's Hollow car park, you will enjoy on your way the amazing and challenging Medusa's Drop with its zigzags, berms and switchbacks, gorgeous views over Langdale from the northern edge of Dalby Forest and open countryside on Dalby Forest Drive.

It's a brilliant route for MTB enthusiasts, with spectacular views on the way.

“Custodians” is an evolving installation, inspired by the history that the Forestry Commission is charged with preserving, and the future they plan to protect beyond their own lifetimes.

A gentle route around the top of the forest plateau. The long route, via Crosscliff Wood viewpoint and Jerry Noddle, both offering spectacular views across the moors. The Givendale Head road section provides open countryside and pastures views, diversifying the tour. It's a lovely bike tour, easy enough for most, and offering some of the best that Dalby Forest has to offer. Worth a ride.

Try our fun, navigational challenge at Dalby Forest using a simple map to find twelve Gruffalo markers hidden in the deep, dark wood.

If you're feeling competitive, choose to run, walk (or skip!) the course against the clock.

Trail certificate and maps are available to purchase from the Visitor Centre during opening times and cost £1.50. You will need to drive to the trail start at the Adderstone Field car park which is about 5 miles (10 minutes) from the visitor centre.

Introducing Reciprocity Forest - an exciting new augmented reality (AR) artwork app that explores trees and our relationship to them. The app enables you to follow three specially-designed virtual leaf trails through the forest using your mobile and listen to the curious narratives about the trees. This enables us to have a whole new appreciation of trees and experience the forest in a new light.

Located near Low Dalby along the Ellerburn Trail, the cycle skills area is a series of technical loops ranging from green through to red grading, where you can test your ability to determine your level of riding. The perfect place to warm-up before a ride.

Grandfather Oak play area

Swing, climb, hide and spark their imaginations at the Grandfather Oak playground in Dalby. 

Test your climbing skills on this fun playground with so much for the mind to explore. Hide away in our wooden teepees, clamber on the climbing frame or make your way round the playground and find your joy in the wildplay area. 

Den building is highly encouraged!

This trail around Pexton Moor has outstanding views of the riggs and dales of Dalby and Ellerburn along a route that takes in a range of woodland habitats. Don't miss the striking Lumberjill Sculpture on the way, commemorating the women working in British forests during World War 2.

The route follows a mixture of earth tracks, forest road and compacted gravel path. It may be slippery in wet weather.

Enjoy a tasty treat in the forest at one of our beautiful picnic areas, just bring along good food and company!

There are picnic benches amongst the trees or you can picnic on the grassy lawn beside the Visitor Centre.

To prevent forest fires and reduce waste, please do not bring any barbecues into our forests.

If you have short or long term limited mobility, enjoy one of our free all-terrain mobility vehicles.

You do not need to be registered disabled.

How to book

We recommend booking before you visit by calling 01751 460295.

Hire is free of charge and can be for half a day or a full day.

A pleasant walk from nearby the Visitor Centre. This trail has a steady incline upwards with a with a chance to see deer at the viewpoint.

The walk passes by a ‘rabbit type’, an important part of Dalby’s history when rabbits were farmed for fur. Ask our staff in the Visitor Centre more about our history.

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 

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