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Dalby Forest

Garden, Park & Outdoor · North Yorkshire, England

Dalby Forest is a garden, park & outdoor in North Yorkshire, England. Entry is free. See prices, opening times, the best days to avoid the crowds, parking and food, with every detail dated so you know how fresh it is.

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PriceFree entry
Forestry England: free to enter, but parking is charged hourly: 30 mins free, £3/hr up to £15 over 4 hours (members free). Gruffalo trails, cycle hub, Go Ape, play and lawn games by the visitor centre.
Opening timesForest 8am-8pm daily. Visitor centre Mar-Oct 9.30am-5pm, Nov-Feb 9am-4pm; closed 25-26 Dec and 1 Jan.
Best time to goDry days; weekdays outside school holidays.
School holiday tipEarly July is the sweet spot for Scottish families: English/Welsh schools stay in until about 20-23 July. Late August is the English/Welsh peak, so choose Tue-Thu and arrive at opening.
Best agesAll ages
All ages.
If it rainsOutdoor: pick dry days
ParkingHourly parking (see note). (£3.50 up to 1 hour, £6.50 up to 2 hours, £9.50 up to 3 hours, £12.50 up to 4 hours, £15 over 4 hours)
FoodDalby Forest Café and Courtyard Café.
Money saverFree or low-cost; parking is the main cost; take a picnic.
Top tipsHuge forest with play areas, trails, cycling and Go Ape; visitor centre at Low Dalby.
What to packWellies, waterproofs, picnic, bug spray, sun cream

Details checked against the official website on 23 Oct 2026. Venue website or source

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