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Enjoy the forest's natural attraction

Jun 2 2007 By Chris Syles, The Evening Chronicle

Looking for a get-away-from-it-all holiday? Chris Syles got back to nature in North Yorkshire.

Two weeks on a sun lounger doesn't do it for me. I want more out of a holiday than soaking up the rays and catching up on the latest paperback.

It's a good thing too, because having a scarily enthusiastic and energetic three-year-old in tow means I wouldn't get the chance to do it anyway.

My partner, son James and I headed into the forest with great anticipation.

Forest Holidays is a joint venture between The Forestry Commission and The Camping and Caravanning Club.

It has three cabin sites around the country - Liskeard in Cornwall, in Scotland's Trossachs and our destination, Keldy in the middle of Cropton Forest on the North Yorkshire Moors.

The breaks are marketed as get-away-from-it-all activity holidays and an early indication of this is as you turn towards the Keldy site down a mile-long road through the trees. The road reaches a clearing where the cabins come into view.

The site is far removed from some caravan and cabin sites - small units packed closely together. The cabins are an imposing sight - with floor-to-ceiling picture windows - and though there are around 50 on the site, you don't get the feeling of being part of a crowd.

Inside, they are minimalist, but luxurious and imposing. The huge window-front creates a real feelgood factor.

There isn't everything you may have in your kitchen cupboard, but that's a small gripe and not what this holiday is about.

The real attraction is on your doorstep. We spent hours exploring the forest - time passes quickly when you're building dens, climbing trees and fording streams. It was real Swallows and Amazons stuff and the isolation of the cabins and the lack of a mobile phone reception add to the enjoyment.

Long and short waymarked walks are provided and cycle hire and pony trekking are available to explore deeper into the forest. The site also has a reception, laundry and games room.

The cabin verandah is spacious and a real treat when the sun shines. A night-time downpour during our visit also provided a treat - mud.

The three-year-old took great pleasure in donning the wellies and heading back into a rain-soaked forest; the kid knocking on 43 enjoyed it just as much.

It you want to get away from the site to explore further, Pickering is the nearest town, with Helmsley also nearby. The line carrying the North Yorkshire Steam Railway runs adjacent to the forest and Scarborough and Castle Howard are further afield but within striking distance. Most of these are worth a visit but just don't compare to the attractions on offer in the forest.

There are three types of cabin at the three sites - standard, superior and VIP. Superior cabins have an additional en-suite shower room, upgraded furnishings and a widescreen TV and DVD player, while VIP cabins also feature a wood burner and outdoor hot tub.