Horse Close

Deep in the Cumbrian woodland, Horse Close is a proper forest walk that catches most visitors off guard. It's the sort of place you'd miss entirely if you weren't looking for it, tucked away near the A590 corridor where nobody expects anything interesting. The forest floor is thick with moss and fallen branches, the kind of walk that feels genuinely remote even though you're minutes from the main road.

What you're getting here is straightforward woodland rambling through mature trees - nothing fancy, no café, no interpretive boards. It's ideal for anyone who just wants to walk without the crowds you'd find at more famous Lake District spots. Families with older kids will find it decent enough for a solid hour or so, though younger children might lose interest quickly since there's no dramatic scenery or water features to break things up.

If you're staying at Old Park Wood Caravan Holiday Park nearby, it's definitely worth combining with a day's exploring in the area. The forest itself won't take long - budget an hour to ninety minutes depending on which paths you take - so treat it as part of a larger outing rather than a day's destination on its own.

Timing-wise, spring and autumn are when the walk works best. Winter gets muddy, summer can be oppressively damp under the canopy. Go early in the day if you want solitude, though honestly you'll probably have it to yourself most times anyway.