Burroughs Wood

A proper woodland walk just outside Leicester, Burroughs Wood is the sort of place you stumble upon rather than plan for - which is exactly what makes it worth the detour. It's a working nature reserve where you'll find yourself surrounded by mature trees, woodland floor thick with leaf litter, and the kind of quiet that feels increasingly rare near a city. The paths wind through naturally, nothing fancy, just good honest woodland walking.

This is genuinely for walkers first and foremost. Families with young kids might manage a short circuit, but it's not a manicured park with play equipment - it's the real thing. Birdwatchers and anyone who enjoys spotting woodland wildlife will get far more out of it than casual visitors after a quick stroll. The reserve changes through the seasons too, so autumn and spring are probably your best bets for seeing something interesting.

Being barely a mile from Charnwood Acres Caravan Park, it's ideal if you're staying at one of the local parks for a few days and want to break up the holiday routine. The Dandelion Hideaway and Bosworth Caravan Park are also within reasonable distance if you're basing yourself in the area. The walks aren't demanding, so it works well as a morning activity before heading into Leicester proper or tackling something more ambitious in the surrounding countryside. Allow a couple of hours if you're taking it slowly and actually looking about rather than just walking.