Burthwaite Wood

You'll find Burthwaite Wood just outside Keswick, a proper working forest that doesn't go in for the bells and whistles of a formal visitor attraction. It's the sort of place where you can actually walk among the trees without queuing or paying an entrance fee, which is refreshing given how busy the Lake District gets these days.

The woodland itself is mixed - conifers planted in neat rows alongside older broadleaf sections - and it offers decent walking without the relentless climb you get on the fells. Most visitors come for an hour or two to clear their heads, though you can easily spend longer if you've got the stamina. The paths aren't always obvious, mind you. Bring a map or download something onto your phone, otherwise you'll end up wandering the same loop twice.

It works well as a half-day addition to a park holiday near Keswick. If you're staying at Skiddaw View Holiday Park or Kestrel Lodge Campsite, you're ten minutes away. It's good for families who want something less strenuous than Catbells, and walkers killing time before or after hitting the bigger mountains. Dogs are fine here too.

Timing-wise, spring and early autumn are nicest when the light filters through properly and you're not slipping on last month's needles. Summer can feel a bit oppressive under the dense canopy. Real woodland walkers will appreciate it; others might find it a touch ordinary compared to the views you'd get higher up.