Upper Owlers Wood

The woodland floor here is thick with moss and last season's leaves - properly atmospheric stuff. Upper Owlers Wood sits just outside Sheffield and offers the kind of walk that feels a world away from the city despite being barely minutes from the edge. It's not massive, but that's rather the point. You get genuine forest without the crowds you'd hit at bigger attractions.

The paths wind through native broadleaf woodland, and in spring it's absolutely worth timing a visit for the bluebells. Even in winter the structure of the trees makes it visually interesting. Walkers will find it straightforward enough - nothing technical, just decent footpaths through proper wood. Families with young kids can manage a circuit without it becoming a chore, though there's nothing specifically laid on for children, so they need to be the self-entertaining type.

Plan for anything from forty-five minutes to two hours depending on whether you're the ambling sort or the brisk-pace brigade. It's free, which is always welcome. The nearest town is Sheffield itself, making this ideal if you're based at The Holiday Pod or Beesknees Glamping Holidays nearby and want a proper walk without driving far. Neither park is far - five to six miles - so you could easily combine this with other local woodland or country pursuits. Go when the weather's dry if you can; it does get muddy after rain. Not a destination in itself, but absolutely worth knowing about if you're in the Sheffield area and fancy getting among the trees for an hour or so.