Broadoak Wood

The woodland paths through Broadoak Wood offer a proper escape from Stoke-on-Trent's urban sprawl. It's a working forest rather than a manicured nature reserve - think mixed woodland with decent footpath coverage and the kind of quiet you don't often find this close to the Potteries.

Walkers will get the most from it. The terrain is gently rolling with enough path variety to string together a solid hour or two without retracing your steps. Families with primary-school-aged kids will find it engaging; younger children might lose interest once the novelty of "being in the woods" wears off. There's no visitor centre or interpretation boards, so you're not here for a history lesson - you're here for a walk. Bring a decent map or use your phone's offline mapping because signage is sparse in places.

Broadoak works well alongside the caravan parks scattered nearby. Intake Farm Campsite is just over two miles away, and Glencote and Hales Hall are similarly close - perfect for breaking up a camping holiday with a morning ramble. The forest itself is free to access, which is always welcome.

The wood is at its best between May and September when the canopy is thick enough to offer proper shelter from sun and drizzle. Winter visits are feasible but can be muddy. Allow two to three hours for a decent loop rather than a quick thirty-minute dash - there's enough woodland here to justify the time, but it's not going to blow your mind if you're fresh from a Lake District holiday.