Bullby Hill Plantation

The walk through Bullby Hill Plantation catches you off guard - you turn off the road near Sandy expecting a modest woodland, and instead find yourself among proper mature trees with enough space to actually breathe. It's the kind of forest that feels older than it probably is, with a decent network of paths threading through without getting you hopelessly lost.

This isn't a destination that'll keep you entertained for a full day. What it is, though, is a solid two-hour woodland ramble if the weather's on side. The paths are generally well-maintained, though muddy stretches are par for the course after rain. Dog walkers clearly love it here, and families with primary-school-age kids will find it manageable without the pushchair nightmare you'd get in some overgrown reserves.

Sandy's just down the road, so if you're based at either Cambridgeshire Lakes or St Neots Camping and Caravanning Club Site - both cracking spots if reviews mean anything - this works as a morning walk before heading elsewhere. The plantation sits nicely as a break-the-day-up sort of activity rather than a main event. Spring's probably your best bet, when the undergrowth isn't completely choking the paths and you might actually spot something beyond rabbits.

Bring a map if you're going solo. The waymarking's present but not exactly explicit, and the paths do double back on themselves in confusing ways. Free to access, no visitor centre, no facilities - it's just trees and your own sense of direction.