Windsor Great Park

Four thousand acres of rolling woodland and open parkland spread across the border between Windsor and Surrey - that's what you're working with at Windsor Great Park. The place sprawls so generously that you can spend an afternoon here and barely scratch the surface. Proper walking territory, with tree-lined avenues, lakes, and meadows that shift character depending on which path you take.

The Valley Garden sits at the heart of it all - a formal landscaped section with specimen trees and shrubs that's been cultivated since the 1930s. It's the bit most visitors find first, and for good reason: it's easy on the legs and takes about an hour to wander through. Beyond that, you've got the Obelisk Pond, Virginia Water (the artificial lake that looks far more natural than it has any right to), and miles of woodland rides threading through ancient oaks and beeches.

Walkers will find this genuinely rewarding - the terrain's gentle enough for families but varied enough that you won't feel like you're trudging round a municipal park. Children get a kick out of spotting deer if you're lucky. History types appreciate the fact it's been royal land since medieval times, though you're here for the walking and fresh air rather than any grand buildings.

Admission's free, which seems almost unlikely given the upkeep. Allow three to four hours minimum if you want to do it justice. If you're based at one of the caravan parks near Chertsey or Windsor, this works as a proper day out - you could also combine it with a walk into Windsor itself. Spring's lovely, but honestly, it's good year-round.