The Gorse

The Gorse is a proper working forest just outside Shifnal in Staffordshire - the kind of place where you can actually wander without feeling herded. It's mixed woodland, mostly, with decent walking trails threading through and plenty of space to move about without tripping over other visitors.

You'll find yourself under mature trees, the ground soft with decades of dropped needles and leaves. The forest floor is the real attraction here - dappled light, the smell of earth and pine, and birdsong that'll remind you why you left the house. It's not a destination with facilities or marked-up attractions; this is straightforward woodland walking.

Families with older kids will get the most from it. Young ones might lose interest after an hour unless they're the type to spend an afternoon spotting insects and building stick houses. Dog walkers absolutely love it here - there's proper freedom for off-lead time on the open sections.

Bring proper boots because it can get muddy, especially after rain. There's no entrance fee as far as anyone can tell, and you can spend anywhere from an hour to a full afternoon depending on how far you venture. The trails loop back on themselves, so you won't get lost.

If you're based at High Onn Holiday Park or Oakland Holiday Park nearby, The Gorse works well as a morning walk before heading somewhere with more structured activities. It's honest woodland - no nonsense, no gift shop, just trees and paths. That's either exactly what you want or exactly what you don't.