Dalby Forest

Dalby Forest lies on the southern slopes of the North York Moors in North Yorkshire. It forms part of the North Riding Forest Park alongside Langdale and Cropton Forests, all within the national park’s boundaries. The Forestry England team manages the site today. Fossils from 150 million years ago can still be found across the forest floor. Four main dales cut through the land, shaped by meltwater from ancient glaciers. The lowest point stands at 60 metres while the highest reaches 248 metres. The forest shelters badgers, roe deer and nightjars alongside five bat species. Sitka spruce makes up 30 per cent of the trees, yet oaks, beeches and alders also grow here. Four Sites of Special Scientific Interest protect rare plants such as narrow-leaved marsh orchids and violet crown cup. Bronze Age burial mounds and earthworks lie hidden among the woods. In the 1930s unemployed men built tracks and lived in a work camp at Low Dalby. Visitors follow car parks, hiking trails and mountain bike routes through the forest. A forest drive winds between the dales, with a visitor centre offering a café and bike shop. Green trails suit families, while red and black routes challenge expert riders with jumps and steep drops. The White Rose Way long-distance path passes through the trees. Clear night skies draw stargazers, and summer concerts feature artists like Kaiser Chiefs. Ancient monuments and native woodlands remain protected under Forestry England’s plans.