Cliffe Common Wood

Cliffe Common Wood sits just outside Barnsley and isn't the sort of place you'd stumble upon by accident - you have to actually want to go there. It's a proper woodland walk through South Yorkshire's countryside, the kind of spot where you can lose an hour or two without seeing another soul on a weekday.

The trees are dense enough that it genuinely feels like you've left town behind, even though you're minutes from the outskirts. There's a network of footpaths winding through, so you can pick your route depending on how much time you've got and what the ground conditions are like. Muddy after rain, which it often is in Yorkshire.

This works best for walkers rather than families with small children - there's nothing here in terms of facilities or attractions, just woodland and paths. If you're staying at nearby Hoodlands Farm Campsite, it's a decent morning walk before breakfast or a gentle afternoon outing. Bring proper boots though; trainers will have your feet soaked within five minutes.

Free to access, naturally. Allow an hour to ninety minutes depending on which path you take. Best visited from autumn through to early spring when the ground is firm and you won't be wading through high summer undergrowth. It's not dramatic or spectacular, but it's honest woodland rambling - the sort of place that reminds you why people actually move to Yorkshire.