Dog Kennel Wood

A modest patch of woodland just outside Little Hoole Moss Houses that punches slightly above its weight for a quick forest walk. The trees are dense enough to feel like proper countryside rather than a manicured park - mostly deciduous with the kind of undergrowth that actually makes you feel you've ventured somewhere. There's no visitor centre or facilities to speak of, which means it's genuinely free and genuinely quiet.

Walkers will get the most out of this one, particularly those staying at Smithills View Campsite or Brylea Caravan Park who fancy stretching their legs without driving elsewhere. It's the sort of place where you can spend forty minutes wandering without encountering anyone, which is either brilliant or slightly eerie depending on your mood. The paths are serviceable but not manicured - wear proper boots if it's been wet.

Kids might find it a bit dull unless they're into bug hunts and climbing fallen trees. There's no playground, no play area, no café. It's just wood and more wood. If your children need entertainment laid on, look elsewhere. But if they're the type who'll spend an afternoon building dens and investigating, they'll be happy here.

Allow an hour, maybe ninety minutes if you're in no rush. Visit when it's dry - it's not the place to navigate after heavy rain. Worth combining with a stay at one of the nearby parks if you're after genuine woodland rather than themed attractions. Proper old-school woodland, this one.