Thorncliffe Spring

Walk far enough into the woods west of Sheffield and you'll stumble on Thorncliffe Spring - a proper woodland spring that feels genuinely tucked away despite being less than ten minutes' drive from the city edge. The water emerges from the ground in a small clearing, cold and clear, with the kind of stillness that makes you realise how much noise you've been carrying around in your head.

It's the sort of place that appeals to people who actually enjoy being in forests rather than just photographing them. Dog walkers love it, as do serious hikers plotting routes through South Yorkshire's surprisingly good network of woodland trails. Parents with restless kids might find it a bit underwhelming - there's no playground or facilities, just trees and water - but older children who can amuse themselves with a bit of exploring will have a fine time.

The spring itself takes maybe twenty minutes to find and see properly, but the real draw is the walking. The woodland around it is dense and atmospheric, especially in autumn when the light gets all scattered through the leaves. You could easily spend two hours here without boredom creeping in.

Appears to be free and accessible at all hours, with no obvious restrictions. Getting there requires a bit of local knowledge or a good map app, as there's no formal car park - you'll park on a verge and follow forest paths in. If you're staying at The Holiday Pod nearby, it's a proper gem of a base for exploring this part of the Sheffield countryside properly.