Bessie's Pit

You'll find yourself walking into proper woodland when you arrive at Bessie's Pit - an old forest patch just outside Shrewsbury that's somehow escaped the worst of modern sprawl. It's a former mining site, hence the name, though these days it's all trees, undergrowth, and the kind of quiet you don't get near town centres. The paths wind through mixed woodland, nothing manicured about it - roots underfoot, low branches to duck under, the genuine article rather than a landscaped park.

Walkers will get the most from this place. It's proper woodland rambling, not a stroll for the Instagram brigade. If your kids are the type who like building dens and spotting wildlife rather than playgrounds with Wi-Fi, they'll be entertained. History enthusiasts might appreciate the industrial past, though you'd need local knowledge to spot the former workings.

Give it an hour minimum, longer if you're the thorough type. There's no visitor centre or facilities that we could find, so bring what you need. It's free to access, naturally - it's a forest, not a theme park. Timing matters: spring and early summer are best when there's actual light under the canopy and the birds aren't completely silent.

Stay at one of the nearby parks - Stoney Acres or Beaconsfield are both within six miles - and make this a quiet addition to a Shropshire holiday rather than a main event. Pair it with a proper walk around Shrewsbury's Georgian streets and you've got a well-balanced day.