Grove Wood

A proper woodland walk just outside Newmarket, Grove Wood is the kind of place that rewards you for getting off the main road. Ancient trees tower overhead, creating that cool green dimness that makes you forget the A11 exists at all. The paths wind through broadleaf woodland - oak and beech mostly - and in spring the floor absolutely erupts with bluebells. Even in winter when the canopy's bare, there's something peaceful about the skeletal branches and the crunch underfoot.

It's ideal for walkers who want an hour or two of proper nature without having to drive miles. Families with older kids will manage the terrain fine, though very young ones might find it a slog depending on which route you take. The woodland isn't spectacularly dramatic - you won't get sudden vistas or dramatic outcrops - but that's rather the point. It's intimate and quiet, the sort of place where you might actually spot woodland birds if you keep your eyes open.

Access appears to be free, and you can wander the various paths at your own pace. Allow at least an hour, longer if you're the contemplative type. It works brilliantly as a morning outing if you're staying at Piggles Retreat or exploring the wider Newmarket area. Pair it with a poke around the racing town itself - the Heritage Centre is worth an hour - and you've got a solid half-day sorted.