Redmoor Plantation

The forest floor at Redmoor feels different underfoot each season - springy with last year's needles in winter, damp and alive in autumn. It's a proper working plantation rather than some manicured country estate, which means you get the genuine article: rows of conifers, light filtering through at odd angles, the kind of place where you actually notice birdsong because there's nothing else competing for your attention.

The main draw is straightforward woodland walking. Paths wind through the trees, and while it's not wildly dramatic - this is Cambridgeshire flatness, after all - there's something calming about it. Families with younger kids will manage it fine on a decent day; teenagers might find it a bit samey unless they're into photography or spotting wildlife. Serious walkers could incorporate it into a longer route across the fens, though you'd want to check what's actually open before you go.

What makes Redmoor work is proximity to Ely itself. The cathedral town sits just west of here and provides proper facilities, lunch options, and actual attractions if the forest alone feels too gentle. For caravan holidays in the area, you're brilliantly positioned - Hatters Meadows and Heatherbield Lodge are practically on your doorstep, both highly rated sites that make this an easy morning outing. Don't expect visitor facilities at the plantation itself; bring waterproofs and decent boots, time it for midweek if you want quiet, and allow a couple of hours maximum unless you're genuinely keen on a full day among the trees.