Fordington Wood

Walking into Fordington Wood feels like stepping into proper countryside - the kind of place where you can actually hear yourself think. This is a working woodland near Alford in Lincolnshire, all ancient oaks and mature conifers, with decent paths threading through if you know where to look. The main draw is straightforward: peaceful walking, a bit of wildlife spotting if you're lucky, and the sort of green quiet that makes you remember why you left the city.

It's best suited to walkers and families after a gentler woodland stroll rather than hikers after a challenge. Forty minutes to an hour is the right amount of time to get a proper feel for it without overdoing things. The paths can be muddy after rain - which is most of the time in Lincolnshire - so decent boots are worth the bother.

There's no visitor centre or facilities to speak of, so this isn't a destination you'd base a whole day around. What it is, though, is a solid option for caravan park guests at places like Woodthorpe Leisure Park or Cottage-Waters up the road. A mid-morning walk before lunch, or an evening potter after arriving for the weekend. Free to access and genuinely peaceful, which counts for a lot. The woodland itself is unremarkable in the grand scheme of things, but sometimes unremarkable is exactly what you need - and Lincolnshire doesn't get many chances to offer actual forest.