Broughton Hill

The woodland around Broughton Hill, just outside Melton Mowbray, makes for a solid afternoon walk if you're staying at one of the nearby parks like The Grange or Eye Kettleby Lakes. It's proper forest - the kind with decent tree cover, uneven ground, and enough room to actually feel like you've escaped the caravan site.

What you're doing here is walking. There's no visitor centre or café, no facilities to speak of. The appeal is straightforward: trees, fresh air, and a bit of a gentle ramble through Leicestershire woodland. The hill itself offers a bit of elevation, which at least gives you something to aim for rather than just wandering aimlessly.

Families with young kids will manage it fine if they're used to uneven paths. Walkers looking for a proper hike should probably push on to somewhere with more substantial terrain - this is more of a leg-stretch than a challenging walk. The surrounding area is quite agricultural, so don't expect dramatic vistas or anything theatrical.

Best visited on a dry day. Mud can get a bit boggy after rain, and there's no real reason to come when the ground's waterlogged. Spring or early autumn work well - you'll avoid the worst of the summer tourist season around Melton itself, and the woodland's less oppressive.

If you're base-camping nearby, it's worth an hour or so. Worth a special trip from Leicester? Probably not. But as part of a park holiday week, it'll do the job.