Little Wood

A proper pocket of woodland tucked away near Halsall, Little Wood is the sort of place you stumble upon rather than plan for - and that's precisely what makes it worthwhile. It's nothing fancy: just a quiet patch of forest with enough trees to feel properly away from it all, despite being within spitting distance of Lancashire's caravan parks and coastal sprawl.

Walkers will get the most from it, frankly. There are paths threading through, and the whole thing's intimate enough that you won't feel like you're trudging round some managed nature reserve. It's decent for a morning woodland wander if you're based at Southport Caravan and Motorhome Club Campsite up the road - keeps kids entertained for an hour or so without requiring a full day's commitment.

The real appeal is the peace. On a weekday you might barely see another soul, which is rare this close to built-up areas. Autumn's particularly nice when the place fills with colour, and muddy after rain so wear decent shoes. No facilities to speak of - this isn't a visitor centre situation - so come prepared. Free entry, obviously, being what it is.

It won't blow your mind, but Little Wood serves exactly what it promises: a bit of forest, no crowds, close enough to base yourself at a nearby holiday park without needing to venture far. Worth a few hours if you're in the area.