Crow Wood

Dense woodland stretches for miles just outside Preston, offering proper countryside walking without the crowds you'll find at the more famous Lancashire spots. The paths wind through mixed deciduous trees and there's a decent network of trails if you fancy a longer ramble. Nothing spectacular here - no ancient monuments or waterfalls - but it's exactly what you need after a few days stuck on a caravan site.

Families with young children will appreciate the relatively flat terrain, though teenagers might find it a bit dull unless they're into wildlife spotting. The woods are thick enough that you genuinely feel away from civilization, which is saying something given how close you are to Preston's outskirts.

No facilities to speak of, so bring your own water and snacks. An hour's gentle walk is plenty for most visitors, though keen hikers could easily spend half a day exploring the various paths. Best visited on a crisp winter morning when the bare branches create proper cathedral-like spaces overhead.

From the nearby caravan parks like Cross Lane or Midwood, it's an easy drive and makes for a nice change of pace. Not worth a special journey, but if you're staying locally and the weather's decent, it beats another afternoon watching traffic crawl past on the M6.