Forestry England is waving its wand over Dalby Forest this winter, with the launch of a brand new Room on the Broom Trail!

Based on the much-loved Julia Donaldson picture book, Room on the Broom, this lovely new woodland trail has been created to celebrate the story’s 25th anniversary, and it’s the perfect excuse to wrap up and explore one of our favourite places in the North Yorkshire Moors.

What to expect from the Room on the Broom Trail at Dalby Forest

From Tuesday 27th January 2026, families can follow Witch and her friends on a spellbinding walk through the forest. Along the way, help track down Witch’s missing hat, bow and wand, and collect magical ingredients to complete her spell.

Each stop on the trail is designed with little legs in mind, with fun activities, fascinating forest facts and a sprinkling of woodland magic. It might just be your best chance for a family walk without any moaning!

Extra magic to take home

To make the experience even more special, families can pick up a Room on the Broom trail pack from the Visitor Centre for £4. Inside you’ll find a themed lanyard, magic spell cards, stickers, a pencil and a pop-out craft so that kids can create their very own witchy wand. It’s a nice little add-on that makes the trail more engaging, and a souvenir of a nice day out too.

This new trail continues the long-running partnership between Forestry England and Magic Light Pictures, who have been bringing the stories of Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler to life in forests since 2014. You might even a spot a Gruffalo while you’re there, too!

Visiting Dalby Forest – Our top tips

– Admission’s free, just pay to park, so remember it as a great free day out.

– There are family-friendly walking and cycling trails, with something for all abilities. Chat to the staff in the Visitor Centre for details.

– The cafe is great, with indoor and outdoor seating.

– The adventure playground at the Visitor Centre is excellent, but almost too good – it’s hard to extract kids from it, so we’ll usually do the walk first.

– In the summer, it’s a great place to paddle.

Dalby Forest, Dalby Forest Drive, Thornton-le-Dale, North Yorkshire, Pickering YO18 7LT