Nine Wells

You'll find Nine Wells tucked into the chalk countryside east of Cambridge - a proper little string of natural springs that bubble up from the ground and create shallow pools before flowing into Hobson's Brook. The whole walk takes about an hour, and it's one of those places where you realise Cambridge wasn't always all city and colleges. The water's clear enough to see the chalk beds beneath, and there's something oddly peaceful about standing where these springs have been doing their thing for centuries.

Walkers get the most from this one. It's easy terrain, nothing steep, and the path meanders through fields and woodland where you can actually hear birdsong. Families with younger kids will manage it without complaint - under six might find it a bit samey after thirty minutes, but school-age children tend to enjoy hunting along the water's edge. Bring wellies if it's been wet; the ground gets boggy around the actual spring sources.

The visit doesn't cost anything and there are no opening hours to worry about - it's open access, which is brilliant. Spring is the best time, when the water flow picks up after winter rain. Summer can feel a bit dried out. If you're staying at Shepreth Mill Caravan & Camping Holiday Park just down the road, this makes an easy morning outing before heading into Cambridge itself. Don't expect dramatic scenery or Instagram moments. Just come if you want a genuine piece of countryside that most Cambridge tourists miss entirely.