Bewsgill Wood

You'll find yourself walking into proper Lakeland woodland here - all mixed broadleaf and conifer, the kind of place where the light filters green through the canopy even on grey days. Bewsgill Wood sits just outside Cockermouth and makes for a straightforward forest walk without the crowds you'd get at some of the bigger Lake District draws.

There's no visitor centre or facilities to speak of, which is either refreshing or annoying depending on your mood. It's the sort of place you turn up, lace your boots, and crack on. The woodland itself is pleasant enough - decent enough paths, nothing too technical - and it works well if you're based at one of the caravan parks nearby like Forest Views or Skiddaw View. You'd give it two hours maximum, three if you're the type to sit on a log with a flask.

Historically-minded types will find more to chew on elsewhere, but walkers after a straightforward forest ramble will get their money's worth. Kids won't be bored, but they won't be amazed either - it's a walk in the woods, not a destination. The real value is proximity; if you're staying locally and want to stretch your legs without driving into the mountains, this does the job. Worth the detour from Cockermouth? Not especially. But if you're already camped nearby, it's absolutely worth an afternoon.