Doctors Wood

Ancient oak and beech trees tower overhead in this proper slice of old Worcestershire woodland, just outside Pershore. Doctors Wood feels genuinely wild - the kind of place where you can lose yourself for hours following deer tracks and listening to woodpeckers hammering away above.

Families with energetic kids will love the freedom here. There's no marked trail system, which means children can scramble over fallen logs and build dens without anyone tutting at them. Dog walkers have claimed this as their territory too, and rightly so - it's brilliant for letting pups off the lead.

The woodland floor changes with the seasons dramatically. Spring brings carpets of bluebells that are well worth the muddy boots, while autumn turns the canopy into a proper firework display of reds and golds. Bring wellies any time between October and March though - this place gets properly boggy.

Birdwatchers should pack binoculars. I've spotted nuthatches, treecreepers and the occasional buzzard circling overhead. The silence here is remarkable, especially considering you're only a few miles from the M5.

Allow at least an hour for a decent wander, though you could easily spend half a day here if the weather's decent. It's an easy detour from any of the nearby holiday parks around Bredon View or Croft Farm Water Park, perfect for stretching legs between more structured activities.