Cover Wood

The forest floor here is soft with pine needles, and the air smells exactly as you'd hope - clean, resinous, proper woodland. Cover Wood sits just outside Penrith and feels like one of those forests that's been left alone to do its thing, with rough paths threading through tall conifers and the occasional clearing where light actually gets through.

It's walkers' territory, really. Nothing fancy - no visitor centre, no café, no marked trails with laminated signs. You just turn up, park sensibly near the edge, and get on with it. The paths are good enough if you're wearing reasonable boots, though they can be wet and muddy after rain. Allow an hour for a decent ramble, or half that if you're just stretching legs with young children. Older kids who like exploring will get on fine here; the little ones might lose interest quickly without somewhere specific to aim for.

Timing-wise, spring is lovely when the woodland floor's carpeted with growth, but honestly it works year-round. Summer means the canopy's thick enough to keep you cool on a warm day. The real value is as a proper break from the car if you're staying at Beckses Caravan Park nearby - somewhere to get muddy boots and clear your head without driving miles. Don't expect dramatic views or any grand gestures. It's just a good, solid forest that does what forests do. If that appeals, it's well worth thirty minutes off the main roads.