Wilderness Wood

Deep in the Herefordshire countryside just outside Hereford, Wilderness Wood is exactly what it sounds like - a proper forest playground where you can actually let kids loose without worrying they'll hit a tour group. The whole setup revolves around exploring on foot through woodland trails, spotting wildlife, and if you're lucky, finding the various activity stations dotted throughout. It's the kind of place where you can spend two hours easily, though you won't need more than that unless you're really dawdling.

This works brilliantly if you're camping at one of the nearby sites - Chapel House Farm Campsite and Olchon Valley Campsite are both within walking distance, which means you can pop in for an hour or three without needing to drive anywhere. Families with kids aged five to twelve will get the most from it; older teens might find it a bit tame, and very small children need supervising on the rougher paths. The trails aren't demanding, but they're not manicured either.

You'll want to phone ahead or check their site for opening hours and admission fees before you go - details are thin on the ground. Wear proper shoes and assume it'll be muddy. Go in autumn or spring when the light filters through properly and you won't be sweltering. It's not a destination in itself, but as part of a week based around the Hereford area with the other local parks nearby, it fills an afternoon very well indeed.