Dog-friendly walks in Selby

The largest wood in the old Selby district — 340 hectares of mixed forestry between Cawood and Sherburn in Elmet — with flat, wide rides and easy circular routes of four to seven kilometres. It is loved by local dog walkers and dogs run off lead on the main rides; spring carpets the floor in bluebells and wild garlic. Free roadside parking off the lane through the wood; some side paths get muddy and overgrown.

Five and a half miles of towpath from Selby Lock out past Brayton and Burn towards Tankard's Bridge, remarkably flat and firm the whole way and about two and a half hours one way, with the Trans Pennine Trail waymarking to follow. Start at Selby Lock, YO8 8FD, less than half a mile from both the railway station and the bus station, which makes this the easiest walk in the Vale to reach without a car, and there are entry points all along so you can cut it as short as you like. The towpath is the classic bad-weather option here because it drains and stays walkable in January, dogs can be off lead on the quieter southern stretches, and there is shade under the trees, but keep them out of the canal itself and lead up at the locks, bridge holes and around moored boats.