Square Wood

You'll find yourself walking through a proper woodland in the heart of Cheshire, just outside Knutsford. Square Wood is a working forest rather than some manicured visitor attraction - the sort of place where you actually hear birds instead of a gift shop till. The woodland floor is dense with bracken and moss, and the tree cover runs thick enough that you're guaranteed shelter if rain rolls in off the Pennines.

It's ideal for families after a gentle woodland walk that won't have the kids asking how much longer within twenty minutes. History enthusiasts might find it worth a detour too, as Cheshire's industrial past is never far away, and the forest itself has managed the land for generations. The walking paths aren't marked with the sort of brass plaques you see elsewhere - it's more about just ambling through and soaking it in.

Bringing a family staying at Royal Vale Caravan Park, about five miles away, you could easily fit this in as a morning outing. Aim for autumn if you can - the light through the turning leaves is worth the trip alone. Summer can be a bit oppressive with the density of growth, and winter reveals more of the forest structure if you're interested in that sort of thing. Free to access, no faffing with admission tickets. Allow a couple of hours if you're wandering without rushing. It won't set your heart racing, but that's rather the point.