The stunning UK travel destination where you can visit ‘the strangest place in the world’

While Yorkshire might not be at the top of your list for a staycation, the county is home to a lot more than wacky homes, cheap nights out and Emmerdale. 

In fact, nestled in the beautifully verdant Yorkshire Dales, you’ll find ‘the strangest place in the world’ – also known as The Forbidden Corner.

The Forbidden Corner is a whimsical labyrinth on an estate in the east of the national park, which visitors have described as ‘epic’.

You can roam the four-acre grounds of the park, tiptoeing across stepping stones, wandering through its gardens or, as one social media user put it, getting ‘engulfed by ducks’. 

The folly garden, which was originally built to be private, oozes with nostalgia, with visitors having nothing but fond memories of the medieval maze. 

‘Been almost 20 years since I went to Forbidden Corner but I recognised that little river path immediately,’ wrote TikTok user Pale. ‘Such a good time out here!’

Things to do in the Yorkshire Dales

The Forbidden Corner isn’t all the Yorkshire Dales has to offer, and the area makes for the perfect nature holiday, with waterfalls, walks and caves to visit. 

If you want to kill three birds with one stone, head to Malham, where you’ll be able to see some of the park’s best in just a single walk.

By taking a popular circular route from the National Park Centre in the picturesque village, you can see a waterfall set in its own amphitheatre (Janet’s Floss), a huge ravine (Gordale Scar) and Malham Cove, all in about two hours.

Don’t trust your navigation skills? You can also book a full-day walking tour of the Dales from Windermere, with a private driver to boot. 

If you fancy going a bit deeper, there are caves to explore all across the limestone park. The best way to do this (if you don’t want to get stuck) is via show caves; visit White Scar Cave near Ingleton, Ingleborough Cave near Clapham or Stump Cross Caverns near Greenhow.

Or, for a dose of architecture and history, visit Fountains Abbey. Situated three miles south of the historical cathedral city of Ripon, this UNESCO World Heritage Site is home to one of the largest and best-preserved ruined Cistercian monasteries in the country. There’s also a stunning water garden and a plant shop.

Finally, if you’re looking to disconnect, the Yorkshire Dales is an ideal place for a digital detox.

The Swinton Estate, also in Ripon, offers a two-night digital detox complete with reiki drumming, sound baths, group sharing and a spa. It costs £465 per person and you’ll be staying in a fancy tree house. 

There are tons of quaint villages to wander around, shop and dream of the simple life too, like Masham (the ‘real ale capital’), limestone Clapham and cobbled Grassington.

How to get there

It takes about five hours to drive from London to the Yorkshire Dales, depending on where you want to go – and having a car is an ideal way to explore the area.

However, via train, you can get from King’s Cross to Harrogate (which is near Ripon) in about three hours, while the journey from Euston to Windermere takes just under four hours. 

Alternatively, trains from King’s Cross to Northallerton (which is a little closer to the Forbidden Garden) take a little over two hours.

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