Grimscote Heath

Grimscote Heath is proper moorland and woodland wrapped together on Northamptonshire's quieter edges, about four miles south of Northampton town centre. It's the kind of place locals know and tourists miss - open heathland dotted with birch and pine, crisscrossed by footpaths that range from gentle rambles to proper woodland walks.

The best bit? No crowds. You'll spot heather in late summer, plenty of bird life if you're patient, and genuinely peaceful stretches where the traffic noise from nearby roads fades away. It's nothing dramatic - don't expect wild moorland vistas or dramatic rock formations - but that's rather the point. Walkers will find it useful for an hour or two, families with young kids might get a bit restless after that, and birdwatchers should bring binoculars.

Access appears free and fairly informal, though you should check locally before visiting as facilities information is thin on the ground. Allow an hour to ninety minutes depending on which paths you take and how much time you spend dawdling.

If you're based at Hideaway Wood Farm - the alpaca glamping spot just down the road - this becomes a handy leg-stretch option between activities. Same applies if you've booked Magic Mushroom Cabin. Neither is a destination on its own, but paired with a longer Northamptonshire walking trip or as a break from the parks, it does the job. Spring and early summer are loveliest, when the woodland's properly alive.