Crooks Plantation

The woodland at Crooks Plantation spreads across several hundred acres just outside Kendal, offering proper peace and quiet if you know where to find the decent walking routes. It's not a manicured country estate - more working forest with rough paths, tall conifers, and enough shade to keep things cool on a warm day.

You'll get the most from it if you're after a solid woodland walk rather than a destination in itself. The paths wind through a mix of spruce and larch, with occasional clearings that open up towards the wider Cumbrian landscape. It's the kind of place where you can lose an hour easily without realising, which is precisely the point. Families with reasonably confident walkers will have a decent time here, though there's not much in the way of facilities or viewpoints that demand a photo.

Timing-wise, allow a couple of hours minimum if you're doing a proper loop, though you could potter about for less if you're just after a quick leg-stretch. Best visited outside the wettest months - the ground gets boggy in places, and there's precious little shelter when the weather turns. Spring and early autumn work well.

If you're staying at either the Kendal Caravan and Motorhome Club Campsite or the Kendal Camping and Caravanning Club Site, both within five miles, this makes an easy morning or afternoon venture. It's not going to be the highlight of your holiday, but it's solid local woodland walking on your doorstep.