Bushmeand Big Wood

The woodland around Bushmeand Big Wood near St. Neots is proper walking territory - the sort of place where you can actually hear yourself think. It's not dramatic or showy; instead it's a solid patch of mixed forest that rewards a steady ramble with decent paths and plenty of shade. You'll find yourself among mature trees with enough undergrowth to feel properly in the countryside, even though you're barely ten miles from Cambridge.

Walkers will get the most from this. It's not a destination that'll have you glued to one spot for hours - more a place to spend an afternoon covering a few miles, letting the kids run off some energy, or bringing a dog that needs proper exercise. Spring and early summer are when the woodland comes alive, though it's perfectly pleasant on a grey Cambridgeshire day too.

If you're based at St. Neots Camping and Caravanning Club Site just down the road, Bushmeand Big Wood sits nicely into a rambling holiday. Pair it with a morning exploring St. Neots itself or head to Grafham Water a few miles further on - the two complement each other well if you want walking variety across a week. The woodland won't demand much research ahead of time. Just turn up with decent boots and a willingness to follow the tracks. There's something refreshing about a walk with no entrance fee, no visitor centre, and no pressure to spend an hour photographing the same oak tree.