Briary Wood

The woodland around Briary Wood makes for a proper walk if you're based near Corby and fancy stretching your legs without venturing far. It's ancient forest - the kind that's been here longer than most of the towns round about - and once you're under the canopy, you genuinely forget you're in the East Midlands at all. The paths wind through beech and oak, with clearings that open up unexpectedly. On a damp morning, when the light filters through at an angle, it's genuinely atmospheric rather than touristy.

Walkers will get the most from it. This isn't a manicured country estate; it's proper woodland with uneven terrain and tree roots you need to watch your step on. A couple of hours is reasonable if you're doing a solid loop, though you can duck in and out for shorter strolls if you're staying at New Lodge Farm Bulwick just down the road. Children tend to enjoy it if they're the sort who like climbing on things and finding sticks, but it won't hold their attention for a full afternoon unless they're genuinely keen on nature.

There's no visitor centre or facilities that I'm aware of - bring water and wear decent boots. It's free to access, which keeps it refreshingly low-key compared to the manicured parks scattered across the region like Rockingham Forest Park down the way. Best visited when it's not streaming with rain, though even then it has a sort of moody charm. Worth combining with a wider Northamptonshire base if you're doing the circuit of nearby campsites.