Northwood Trail Fairy Sanctuary, Stamford Bridge, Near York – I don’t know if you have heard, or if I should tell you, but there is a fairy sanctuary near York! Yes, once you enter the magical woodland of the Northwood Trail you can wander through the trees and see actual fairy homes! It really is an enchanted walk and the houses are so beautifully made, it’s a rare delight. We visited and made a video of our discoveries.
The Northwood Trail is situated right next to the Jollydays glamping site in Buttercrambe and shares lots of the same quirky style.
You start and end your walk at the Northwood Trail cafe. Actually cafe is too mundane a word for it as even the cafe is styled in woodland mystery with poetry scrolling around the walls and thronelike chairs and tables.
The cafe is currently doing cakes and hot drinks but a fairy whispered to me that before long they will be doing all sorts of food too. The rocky road brownies did look rather nice. There’s seating outside too, so plenty of space.
Northwood Trail Fairy Sanctuary, Stamford Bridge near York
The trail winds round the beautiful woods, with whimsical surprises around every corner. A great deal of thought and artistry has been put into this attraction, and it will delight old and young alike. 
Here is my very own pixie communing with her faerie brothers and sisters.
Keep a watchful eye as, low to the ground and high in the trees the homes of the fairies can be found.
Now – we came across this sign which bodes well for a treat later in the year. Exciting things are coming. I also understand that at Christmas St Nicholas will be paying them a visit!
About half way round – I say half way because I think I may have been beguiled by goblins – there is a maze. It’s fab fun for the children but not suitable for buggies as the terrain is somewhat uneven.
Another place to watch out for is the fairy toadstool circle where fairies come to dance at dusk. If you stand in the centre, you can make a wish….
Our two elves took time to sit in these woodland thrones but I really think they were made for Titania and Oberon themselves.
At the end of your walk there is a den building area and a place for children to play, as well as a sand pit for younger ones.
Your final surprise is when you wend your way back around to the cafe where you will find the ‘Fairy Museum’. Here all sorts of unusual fairy related artifacts can be discovered.
BUT – and I am sure you wouldn’t miss it – make sure the kids open the large wardrobe doors. The white sign you can see actually says ‘Open Me’… I won’t spoil the secret of what’s inside!
I think Northwood Trail is a beautiful new attraction and will be much loved. I am a huge fairy light fan and would love to see some twinkling fairy lights and perhaps the sound of distant fairy bells. I can’t help but think that they will add to it and it will just get better and better as time goes on. I also can’t wait to see it at Christmas!
If you are interested in other days out in the area, do have a look at my list of family days out in Yorkshire.
Lastly – because it reminded me so strongly of Titania’s bower in A Midsummer Night’s Dream:
From Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream
I know a bank where the wild thyme blows,
Where oxlips and the nodding violet grows,
Quite over-canopied with luscious woodbine,
With sweet musk-roses and with eglantine:
There sleeps Titania sometime of the night,
Lull’d in these flowers with dances and delight;