Great Cornard Country Park

A sprawling nature reserve just outside Sudbury, Great Cornard Country Park is the sort of place that rewards a proper wander rather than a quick pit stop. You're looking at woodland trails, open grassland, and enough space to actually lose the crowds - which, frankly, is half the appeal when you're based at one of the nearby caravan parks like Rushbanks Farm or Lake View Lodges.

The trails meander through mixed woodland and along open areas where you'll spot birds, maybe a deer if you're lucky, and honestly the vegetation changes enough to keep you engaged for a couple of hours. It's ideal for families who want their kids to burn energy without needing a theme park entrance fee, and for walkers it's genuine countryside without feeling manicured to death.

We found it works best on a quiet weekday morning - weekends can draw local runners and dog walkers, which isn't a problem unless you're after solitude. Allow two to three hours if you're going to do the full circuit, though you can easily dip in for 45 minutes if you're short on time.

Admission appears to be free, which is brilliant. It's the sort of place that slots perfectly into a park-based holiday around Sudbury - you can pair it with Polstead Country Park five miles down the road for a proper exploration of the area's green spaces. Bring decent footwear; after rain the paths get boggy in places.