The Drive

A woodland walk through mature trees just outside Shrewsbury, The Drive is the sort of place locals know about and visitors stumble upon by accident. The path winds through proper forest - the kind with dappled light filtering through a canopy dense enough to feel like you've actually left the town behind, even though you're barely two minutes from the edge of it.

What you get is straightforward: a good stretch of leg, fresh air, and the chance to spot a bit of wildlife if you're lucky. The walk itself is manageable for families with older kids, though younger ones might lose interest after twenty minutes or so. There's something calming about it though - no theme park atmosphere, no gift shops, just trees and the occasional birdsong.

Worth allowing an hour if you want to do it properly rather than rushing through. It's free, naturally, and works brilliantly as a break from a caravan holiday at somewhere like Sunnyside Farm or Springfield Riverside, both within a few miles. Oxon Hall is equally close if you're based there.

Best visited earlier in the day before the path gets busy. Rain makes it muddier than you'd expect, so decent boots matter. Not a destination in itself - you wouldn't travel from London for it - but if you're staying locally for a week, it's worth an afternoon. The kind of place that reminds you why woodland walks remain popular.