The Thicket

Walk into The Thicket and you're instantly away from Huntingdon's town noise, even though you're barely on the edge of it. This is proper woodland - the sort of place where you actually hear birds rather than traffic, and the ground squelches under your boots after rain. Locals come here for dog walks and morning jogs, which tells you something about how accessible it is.

The main draw is the network of paths threading through mixed woodland, nothing too demanding but enough to feel like you've actually gone somewhere. It's the kind of forest that works brilliantly for families with younger kids - far enough in to feel like an adventure, close enough that you won't lose the plot if someone needs the loo. Walkers get a decent hour or so here without it turning into an all-day mission, and if you're after a bit of peace between the caravan parks, it does the job.

There's something rather refreshing about how unfussy it all is. No visitor centre, no facilities to speak of, just trees and paths. Free to visit, naturally. Best in spring when everything's coming green, though autumn's not bad if you like kicking through leaves. If you're based at Huntingdon Boathaven or Long Island Lake, this is an easy afternoon slot - close enough to pop over for an hour without disrupting your whole day. Worth factoring in if you want to break up a week of static caravan life with something that feels genuinely outdoors.