Rowan Wood

The rowan trees here are the real draw - brilliant orange berries in autumn that look almost unreal against the grey Cumbrian sky. It's a proper woodland walk rather than a manicured forest trail, which means you'll find yourself on actual paths that meander through proper trees, not some sanitised theme-park version of nature.

Walkers will get the most out of this one. You're looking at a couple of hours if you take your time, maybe less if you're just after a quick ramble. The forest floor is soft underfoot, which is lovely, though it can get boggy after rain so appropriate footwear matters. Families with young kids might find it a bit samey after forty minutes - there's not much in the way of play areas or viewpoints to break things up.

Geographically it's just outside Kendal, which makes it ideal if you're staying at either the Kendal Caravan and Motorhome Club Campsite or the Kendal Camping and Caravanning Club Site - both absolutely top-rated spots about five miles away. You could easily combine this with a morning in Kendal town centre, then head out here for an afternoon in the woods.

It's free and always open, which is genuinely refreshing. No gift shop, no cafe, no entry fees - just woodland as it should be. Worth the detour if you're after something genuine rather than another visitor attraction with a car park and a postcard stand.