Whitefaugh Moss

A sprawling tract of woodland just outside Armathwaite, Whitefaugh Moss is the sort of place that rewards an afternoon of proper rambling. The forest floor here is soft underfoot, carpeted with moss and last season's needles, and the trees grow thick enough that you get real shelter from the rain - which matters more often than not in this part of Cumbria.

There's no visitor centre, no café, no facilities to speak of. You turn up and you walk. Trails wind through the woodland, and if you know where you're going, you can link into the broader network of paths that connect across this corner of the Eden Valley. It's straightforward terrain - nothing technical - but the forest can feel properly remote even though you're only a few miles from civilisation.

Walkers will get the most from this. It's the kind of place to spend two hours exploring, not a quick twenty-minute tick-box stop. Families with young children might find it dull - there's no obvious destination, no view at the top, just trees and more trees. But if your kids are old enough to enjoy a proper woodland tramp, they'll be fine.

Useful to know: free access, any time. Combine it with a stay at either Eden Valley Glamping or Drybeck Farm nearby, both cracking spots for a relaxed break in the area. Come in spring when the woodland floor comes alive, or autumn when the light through the canopy turns golden.