Puddingbag Covert

A modest woodland walk just outside Burton-on-Trent, Puddingbag Covert is the sort of place you'd stumble upon by accident and be rather pleased about it. The forest itself is unremarkable from a distance - dense, darkish, the kind of English woodland that doesn't shout about itself. But once you're in, there's something genuinely peaceful about it. Paths wind through the trees without too much fuss, and it's properly quiet, which makes a change.

This is dead easy terrain for families with youngish kids, though don't expect dramatic views or a destination cafe at the end. It's a straightforward woodland ramble, forty minutes to an hour depending on which way you fancy going. Walkers will appreciate it as a decent leg-stretcher between other attractions, and it's free to access, which is always welcome.

The covert works best as part of a broader day out rather than a journey in itself. If you're staying at Lane Tree Hideaways nearby, it's perfectly positioned for a morning stroll before heading elsewhere. The woodland gives you enough to look at - moss-covered logs, proper old trees, the occasional clearing - without demanding too much attention. On a grey Staffordshire afternoon, when you can't quite face another museum, it does the job. Don't hype it to yourself; arrive expecting a quiet walk and you'll leave satisfied.