Oak Moor Farm

Oak Moor Farm sits on the edge of Stoke-on-Trent's green belt, a working agricultural holding that's become something of a focal point for locals who want to escape the conurbation without going far. It's not a visitor attraction in the traditional sense - there's no gift shop or admission desk - but rather a landmark that marks the boundary between industrial Staffordshire and the proper countryside that rolls toward Leek.

What draws people here is straightforward: it's a genuine working farm in an area where you don't expect to find one. The landscape around it opens up considerably compared to what you get closer to town, making it a decent waypoint on a country walk or bike ride. The farm buildings themselves have character - old stone structures that hint at centuries of agricultural life in the Potteries region.

If you're based at one of the nearby campsites - Bank House Farm or Hartington Hills are closest at under four miles - it works well as part of a circular walk rather than a destination on its own. The surrounding countryside is far more interesting than the farm itself, to be honest. Families with young children might find it worth a look if they're keen on seeing actual working farm life, but you can't wander around the buildings or meet the animals on a whim.

The best time to visit is when the landscape is working in your favour - spring or autumn when the light's decent and it's not baking hot. Parking is basic. Allow it as part of a longer ramble through the moorlands rather than planning a separate trip.