Dalby Forest

Along the way you'll find the Dalby Forest Visitor Centre. There's car parking space here, so you can step outside of your vehicle and explore the forest more thoroughly. Dalby has a labyrinth of different trails and paths, but the centre has maps and information to help you plot a course. Alternatively, you can follow one of several clearly marked walks through the forest.

Beautiful Dalby Forest
Photo Timothy E Baldwin

Whichever path you choose, you can't help but stumble across something interesting. Scattered among the trees are ancient leftover relics, including burial mounds from the Bronze Age. During the 18th century, the forest was used extensively for rabbit warrening. Up to 16,000 of the poor creatures were bred here, and harvested for their fur. You can still see some of the old traps and warrens from back then.

Thankfully, Dalby's wildlife can now live in peace. As well as the rabbits, the forest is home to roe deer, and all kinds of birds. Sometimes the Visitor Centre organises late night badger watching trips, so tourists can catch a glimpse of these nocturnal creatures. If you prefer, you can also choose to spend an evening staring up at the sky. The forest has an astronomy centre and observatory, which occasionally opens at night for public viewing.

Just a kilometre or so north from the Visitor Centre is a bike shop called Purple Mountain. They offer bicycle rental, as well as tuition for all levels and abilities. There are several trails in Dalby which are designed exclusively for mountain bikes, so it's a popular activity. The easier ones are mostly on wide, flat roads, and are suitable for all the family.

On the other hand, Dalby Forest is a renowned destination for experienced bikers. If you think you qualify, then you'll need to head for an area of the woods called Dixon's Hollow. This is deliberately separate from the Visitor Centre, so no-one rides the trails by accident. It's a good thing too, as they can be extremely dangerous. There are narrow, slippery bridges, and blind drops over a metre high! Dixon's Hollow also has an area of slopes, jumps and corkscrews, where bikers can be found practicing their tricks.

If you're not so confident in your cycling skills, but you still fancy a bit of an adrenaline rush, then you should make your way up into the trees at the Go Ape centre. This aerial assault course has an array of different obstacles, including rope bridges and ladders. The scariest parts are the zip wires. They send you flying at top speed for up to 250 metres in one go! Getting up into Dalby's leaves and branches like this may be the best way to see why they call this the Great Yorkshire Forest.

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