Cobb's Wood

The walk into Cobb's Wood from Royston catches you off guard. You're expecting the flat fenlands of Cambridgeshire to carry on indefinitely, but instead the trees open up into something with actual character - woodland paths that wind through dense beech and oak, proper dappled light on the forest floor. It's not vast, but it's surprisingly atmospheric for this corner of East Anglia.

The main draw here is straightforward: decent walking trails through native woodland, the sort of place where you actually notice the seasons changing. Spring brings bluebells thick on the ground. Autumn is properly golden. You can easily spend an hour wandering the paths without any great effort, though there's enough to keep you going for two if you're the type who stops to identify birds or just sits on a fallen log for a bit.

Families with younger kids will appreciate that it's close to Royston and not demanding. Older walkers and nature types will find genuine peace here rather than the manicured park experience. Dogs are welcome, though obviously keep them under control during nesting season.

If you're based at Guilden Gate Glamping just down the road, this works brilliantly as a morning or afternoon escape without any faffing about with travel time. The woodland is free to access - no entrance fees or booking required - and there's enough space to park if you're coming from town. Go midweek if you can. Weekends get busier than the woodland really deserves.