Brookfield Plantation

Walking into Brookfield Plantation feels like stepping properly off the beaten track. This forest sits just outside Alcester in Warwickshire, and it's the sort of place you'd miss entirely if you weren't looking for it - which is precisely why it's worth seeking out.

The woodland here is thick and genuine. You're not wandering through manicured paths with interpretation boards at every turn; instead, you get actual trees, proper shade, and the kind of quiet that makes you realise how little of it there is about. The trails wind through mixed woodland, and depending on the season, you'll find bluebells making a show in spring or decent autumn colour if you time it right.

It's ideal for families wanting something low-key, or anyone after a proper walk without the crowds you'd get at the bigger country estates nearby. You could easily spend two hours here and feel like you've genuinely decompressed. Kids will enjoy the freedom to explore without feeling shepherded around.

If you're basing yourself at one of the nearby parks - Wootton Park Glamping Pods, Island Meadow, or Greenhill Park are all within five miles - Brookfield makes a solid half-day outing. It's the kind of place that rewards turning up early to beat any weekend traffic from Birmingham.

Bring proper footwear. The woodland can be muddy even days after rain.