Abram's Plantation

You'll find yourself walking through proper woodland the moment you enter Abram's Plantation, just outside Hereford. The forest floor is thick with leaf litter, and the canopy above does a decent job of keeping the drizzle off on those typical Herefordshire days. It's a straightforward forest walk - no fancy installations or visitor centre, just you and the trees.

This is where walkers come to put their boots to good use without faffing about. The trails wind through the plantation in an unhurried way, and if you've got the map, there's enough route variety to keep a proper hiking day interesting. Not somewhere to rush through in forty minutes; you'll want at least two hours to do it justice and actually notice what you're walking through. Kids will either love getting muddy among the trees or complain within ten minutes - depends entirely on yours.

The plantation sits perfectly within striking distance of Pearl Lake Country Holiday Park, just over half a mile away, making it ideal for a morning walk before heading back for brunch. Townsend Touring and Camping Park is a short drive north if you're based there. Even Rockbridge Park, further out, could make this a half-day excursion from your base.

It's free to access and there's nothing staged about it, which is either a genuine plus or a bit sparse depending what you're after. Go when it's actually dry if you can - the paths aren't terrible in wet conditions, but they're genuinely nicer when they're not squelching underfoot.