Hell Hole Plantation

The name alone stops you in your tracks, but Hell Hole Plantation is actually rather tame - a sprawling woodland north of Clitheroe where the Lancashire Ribble Valley folds into something genuinely wild. What you're walking through is a proper mixed forest: mature broadleaves, conifers, the works. The canopy's thick enough that even on a scorching day you'll find cool, dappled shade threading through the paths.

It's the sort of place where you feel properly cut off from the village just a few miles south. Walkers get the most from it - the terrain's varied enough to hold interest for a solid couple of hours if you explore beyond the main routes. The undergrowth is dense, which means it's lush and atmospheric rather than open and airy. Children won't get bored if they're the type to hunt for stick insects and pick mushrooms, but there's no playground or facilities, so don't expect entertainment beyond the walk itself.

The plantation sits nicely alongside a Ribble Valley holiday - Calder Farm is just three miles away if you're camping or staying in pods. It's the kind of place to visit on a morning before heading out for lunch in Clitheroe town centre, rather than a day trip destination in itself. Allow two to three hours maximum. Spring and autumn are best - you'll avoid the summer crowds and the woodland shows properly. Free to access, and the paths are generally well-maintained, though it can get muddy after rain.