Crook Wood

Crook Wood is one of those forests you stumble upon rather than plan for, and that's rather the point. It's a proper Northumberland woodland - the sort with ancient oaks, a decent network of paths, and enough green to make you forget Stocksfield is just down the road. The walking is straightforward; nothing technical, just lovely forest floor and the occasional stream to hop across.

This works brilliantly if you're staying at Valley View Camping & Glamping nearby. You can do an hour's amble before breakfast or kill a rainy afternoon without driving anywhere. The paths aren't signed like a country park - bring a phone map or you'll end up doing loops - but that's half the charm. Kids will manage it fine, though expect the usual complaints about "when are we stopping?" after forty minutes.

The wood itself isn't dramatic. There's no waterfall or viewpoint to aim for. What you get instead is genuine forest: bird calls, dappled light, the smell of leaf mould. If you're after that, it's brilliant. If you want something with a cafe and a visitor centre, keep driving.

Access appears to be free and open, though I'd check locally when you arrive - Northumberland woods can be closed for forestry work. Autumn's the obvious choice, but spring's quieter and the bluebells can be proper good. Allow two to three hours max, and wear wellies after rain. The paths hold water.