Hawkins Wood

Hawkins Wood sits just outside Royston, a proper woodland reserve that feels genuinely remote despite being minutes from the town. It's the sort of place where you'll spot woodpeckers if you're quiet enough, and the paths wind through mixed woodland - oak, ash, birch - with the ground carpeted in bluebells come spring. There's no visitor centre, no café, no fuss. Just trees and the occasional sign telling you which way the trails go.

Walkers will get the most from it. The paths are decent and reasonably flat, though muddy after rain, so proper boots matter. You're looking at forty minutes to an hour if you stick to the main loop - enough time to feel like you've escaped without committing your whole afternoon. Kids will manage fine if they're the exploring type; if they need playgrounds and ice cream, this isn't it. Birdwatchers and photographers should bring binoculars and patience.

Free access as far as we can tell, and no set hours - it's the kind of reserve you visit when it suits you. Early morning is best for wildlife spotting. Summer can get muggy under the canopy, so spring or autumn edges it for comfort.

If you're based at Ashridge Farm or Church Farm Ardeley nearby, Hawkins Wood makes a solid morning outing before lunch back at the caravan. It's not spectacular enough to plan a trip around alone, but alongside Royston's market square and nearby walking country, it rounds out a quiet Cambridgeshire break properly.