Eastridge Woods

The woodland path at Eastridge is proper thick with it - tall oaks and birches creating a canopy that blocks out most of the sky. You're on the edge of Shrewsbury, which makes it convenient for anyone based at one of the local holiday parks, especially Eastridge Glamping just down the road.

It's a straightforward nature reserve, the kind where you turn up and just walk. No fancy facilities or visitor centre that I'm aware of, but that's rather the point. You get woodland, wildlife if you're lucky, and peace. The paths are manageable rather than demanding, so it suits families who don't want a full-day trek and walkers after a morning's stretch of the legs.

How long to give it? Two hours maximum if you're thorough. An hour if you're just after a quick breath of fresh air between other things. Free, as far as I can tell - there's no gatehouse or admission booth.

The best time is late spring when the woodland floor isn't a bog and the light filters through nicely. Winter's quieter but damper. If you're staying at one of the nearby parks - Spring Lea or Brow Farm aren't far - it's worth a visit for contrast to campsite life, but don't expect anything spectacular. It's genuine local woodland, not a show garden. Proper useful if you want to get the kids away from screens for an afternoon, less so if you're after dramatic scenery or a destination day out.