The best MTB trails around Flaxton

Beautiful woodland walks with stunning views of Castle Howard and unique architectural features like the pyramid on St. Anne's Hill and the Four Faces monument. The wood also features a variety of flora, including rhododendrons, and the King Oak, which has a fascinating information board.

Nice and easy gravel track, can be quite bumpy and the middle section through woodlands always seems to be wet (even when it hasn't rained for weeks)

Unmissable and unfortunately not well served by public footpaths or bridleways, however, the main road has sufficiently wide verges to walk safely along. If you are heading north past the Obelisk Ponds, then there is a fantastic track on the east side of the road which is flanked by lime trees forming a wonderful avenue to walk along (see photos).

It's a magnificent experience walking in Pretty Wood, which is very appropriately named - it's very pretty here! On your way, you will pass the ancient tree, King's Oak, which is thought to be over 400 years old. Further into the forest, you will come upon the Four Faces monument from the 18th century. And outside of these, it's a beautiful forest to be in.

This place is just incredible. On this family-run farm, you'll find essentially a sea of different lavender flowers (be careful, it's almost unbearably beautiful) with striking views of the Vale of York added for good measure. It's one of the most amazing places I've ever seen. Open to visit between April and September, the farm also has a shop and a tearoom. It should be one of your top places to visit in Yorkshire.

The Obelisk, raised in 1714-15, carries two sets of inscriptions. The first, in Latin, commemorates the victories of the 1st Duke of Marlborough. The second, on the west side is in English, was composed in 1731 when much of the building and landscaping had been completed. It was written with posterity in mind and is the clearest statement possible of the 3rd Earl's aspirations for his family.

Castle Howard is enormous! It doesn't conjure up Brideshead but is well worth seeing in its own right. The formal gardens, extensive grounds and house are each worth seeing separately.

Building began at Castle Howard between 1699 and 1701, but construction was still going on when the architect John Vanbrugh died in 1726. In fact, the house still wasn’t complete when the Earl died in 1738. His son in law took over the build with different architectural style and it was eventually completed in 1801. The garden was also landscaped over these years. A great fire broke out in 1940 destroying the dome and many rooms. It's been a restoration project ever since, with the dome replaced in the early 1960's and the garden hall rebuilt in 1981. Today it's open to the paying public who can visit and tour the house and gardens. There are footpaths through the estate so you can also walk through for free and view the buildings and gardens.