Blakemere Hill Wood

The woodland around Blakemere Hill, just outside Hereford, is proper walking country. Ancient mixed woodland with a decent network of paths takes you through beech and oak, with the occasional clearing that opens onto the surrounding Herefordshire countryside. It's the sort of place you come to stretch your legs rather than tick a box - no visitor centre, no cafe, just trees and the occasional muddy track.

Walkers will absolutely get the most from this. The terrain is manageable without being flat, and you can loop a route anywhere from 45 minutes to two hours depending on how much exploring you fancy. Spring's lovely if you time it right for the bluebells, though autumn's equally good when the canopy colours up. Families with older kids who don't mind a bit of scrambling will find plenty to investigate, though toddlers might lose interest quickly on the narrower paths.

It's free to access and there's no formal opening hours - you're working with daylight and weather. Allow at least an hour if you're doing more than a quick stroll. The ground can get waterlogged in winter, so proper boots are wise.

If you're based at one of the nearby campsites - Poston Mill or Byecross Farm are closest at under two miles - this makes an excellent morning walk before heading into Hereford proper. It's straightforward country walking rather than a destination in itself, but that's rather the point. Sometimes the best woodland breaks are the quiet ones.