Hilltop Plantation

Dense woodland rolls across these Cumbrian hills just outside Carlisle, and Hilltop Plantation is the sort of place you'll stumble into rather than plan a special trip for - though you might well be glad you did. The forest floor is thick with moss, the trees press in from all sides, and there's a proper sense of being tucked away from the world. Walking trails wind through here, though they're not signposted with the kind of attention you'd get at a more managed attraction. Bring a map or check locally before you go.

This works well for families who want their kids burning energy without the theme park crowds, and for walkers building a longer route through the hills. History types might find less to grab onto here - it's working forestry rather than a heritage site - but the landscape itself has that quiet pull that Cumbrian woodland does so well. Expect muddy boots and the smell of dark earth. Allow an hour or two depending on your pace and which trails you fancy.

Free to access, which is the pleasant bit. From Carlisle town centre it's within easy driving distance, making it a decent half-day option if you're based at Pasturewood Holidays' glamping pods two or three miles away. Those hot tubs would be welcome after a muddy trek through here, truth be told. It's not the sort of place that photographs beautifully for Instagram, but that's rather the point - it rewards visitors who actually want to be in a forest rather than visit one.