Thorp Perrow – Arboretum and Bird of Prey & Mammal Centre

If you haven’t been to Thorp Perrow yet and you live anywhere near Bedale, honestly what are you waiting for. The arboretum is genuinely one of the best places in North Yorkshire for a proper walk — there’s a lake, forest trails, and enough open grass that the kids can properly run themselves ragged. The birds of prey and mammal centre are a real highlight, not just a sideshow, and you’ll want to budget more time there than you think. Pack a picnic or grab something from the café, find a bench under the trees, and just settle in for the afternoon.