Blackcroft

The woodland around Blackcroft offers proper woodland walking without the crowds you'd find at some of the better-known Warwickshire forests. It's genuine forest floor stuff - damp leaf litter, decent tree cover, and enough paths to spend a good couple of hours if you're not in a rush.

You're looking at mixed woodland, mostly, with the kind of light and shadow play that makes for decent photography on an overcast day. The ground can be boggy after rain, so bring proper boots rather than trainers. It's not dramatic scenery - no viewpoints or waterfalls - but that's rather the point. This is the sort of place where you actually notice birdsong and the smell of wet earth instead of thinking about where the next Instagram moment is.

Walkers will get the most from Blackcroft. Families with small children might find it a bit samey after an hour or so - there's nothing to stop at, no cafe, no playgrounds. Older kids who actually enjoy a forest walk rather than a theme park experience will be fine.

It's free to access and you can turn up whenever suits. Give yourself two to three hours if you want to explore properly rather than just wander for half an hour.

If you're camping at Mousley House Farm, only 2.3 miles away, Blackcroft makes an easy morning walk before heading into Warwick itself. The racecourse campsite and Knight's Village are slightly further out but still close enough to make this a decent addition to a forest-walking break rather than a main event.