Bullock Spinney

A proper woodland walk near Stamford, Bullock Spinney is the kind of place where you remember why you bothered with the East Midlands in the first place. The spinney - that's an old English word for a small wood, in case you're not familiar - offers a decent stretch of tree cover with paths that wind through without too much faffing about.

It's walkers' territory, mainly. You're looking at a solid hour or so if you take the main route at a leisurely pace, though you can duck in and out depending on energy levels. The woodland has that properly managed feel, so it's not going to turn into a scramble through brambles halfway round. Bring decent shoes though - it can get boggy after rain, and this is Lincolnshire, so it rains.

Families with younger kids might find an hour feels a bit long if there's not much to do besides tree-spotting, but older children who actually enjoy a walk will get on fine. History buffs won't find much to latch onto here - it's woodland for woodland's sake, not some ancient forest with archaeological importance.

The location works well if you're based at somewhere like Stamford Meadows Glamping, just four miles away. Stamford itself has enough cafes and pubs to justify a proper day out once you're done tramping around. There's no entry fee that I'm aware of, and the whole experience slots nicely into a morning or early afternoon without eating into the rest of your schedule.