Castor Hanglands National Nature Reserve

The Castor Hanglands are a proper slice of unspoiled nature - limestone grassland and scrub that slopes down towards the River Nene, just outside Stamford. It's the sort of place where you'll spot orchids if you time it right, and the views across the valley are genuinely worth the walk up. The reserve feels refreshingly uncommercialized, which means you won't find a visitor centre or refreshment stand, but that's rather the point.

Walkers get the most out of this one. The terrain is gentle enough for a casual afternoon stroll but interesting enough to hold your attention - there are proper footpaths winding through the grassland, and the variety keeps things from feeling samey. Birdwatchers should bring binoculars; you'll catch buzzards and skylarks without much effort. It's free to visit, naturally, and you can spend anywhere from an hour to half a day depending on how much you fancy wandering.

If you're camped at Ferry Meadows just down the road - which is excellent, incidentally - or The Nest Glamping closer in, this sits nicely as a morning walk before heading to Stamford itself for lunch. Summer's the obvious choice for the wildflowers, but autumn brings something equally good: the walk's less crowded and the light's warmer. Kids under ten might lose interest quickly; teenagers and adults will find it peaceful rather than dull.