Top Wood

Top Wood sits on high ground near Swadlincote, offering proper views across the Leicestershire countryside - the sort of spot where you actually feel like you've climbed somewhere, even if it's not exactly Alpine. It's a working woodland rather than a manicured attraction, which means you get the real thing: dense trees, decent walking paths, and the kind of quiet that makes you remember why you left the city.

The main draw here is straightforward. You're walking through proper English woodland with views that open up in places - nothing extraordinary, but solid. On a clear day you can see across the surrounding countryside, and in autumn the light through the trees is genuinely worth the trip. It's free to access, which helps when you're not entirely sure what you're getting before you arrive.

Families with older kids will get more from it than those with toddlers - there's actual walking involved, no café at the top, and it's the sort of place that's brilliant for 90 minutes, then you're done. History buffs might find the industrial heritage of the area more interesting than the wood itself. If you're staying at Conkers Camping and Caravanning Club Site just down the road, it's absolutely worth a morning visit as part of a wider ramble through the area.

Go on a weekday if you can. Weekends bring families and dogs, which is fine, but the whole point of Top Wood is solitude. Allow two hours including the views from the top.