Crompton's Plantation

Walk into Crompton's Plantation and you're in proper woodland - the kind of place where dog walkers outnumber tourists and that's exactly how it should be. It's a working forest in Leicestershire, dense with mature trees and the sort of quiet that makes you remember why you left the car park behind. The paths are well-trodden but never rammed, which means you can actually hear the birds instead of other people's podcasts.

This is straightforward stuff: come to walk. There are no visitor centres, no café, no interpretation boards explaining what you're looking at. You get trees, air, and the occasional glimpse of wildlife if you're lucky. It works brilliantly for families with kids old enough to manage a proper forest walk without needing constant entertainment, and for anyone with a dog who's sick of manicured parks. Give it an hour or two depending on which route you fancy.

Being less than four miles from Frisby Lakes Lodge Park and The Grange Camping and Caravan Park makes it a natural add-on to a Leicestershire base. It's the sort of place you pop into between other activities rather than plan a day around. Free access, as far as anyone can tell, though information about the plantation itself is thin on the ground. Pack a good pair of boots - it can be muddy, and that's part of the appeal. Best visited when the light's decent, so don't leave it until late afternoon in winter.