Danes Moss Nature Reserve

The moss itself is the thing here - 120 acres of boggy, open moorland that feels properly wild once you're in it. Danes Moss straddles the Staffordshire-Cheshire border near Congleton, and it's the kind of place where you can actually see the landscape change under your feet as you walk from drier ground into genuine wetland. There are boardwalks through the squelchy bits, which is essential unless you fancy ruined trainers.

It's ideal for walkers rather than families with small children - the terrain is unpredictable and there's not much to "do" in the amusement sense. But that's rather the point. Birdwatchers come here because the open habitat attracts breeding waders and overwintering visitors. In autumn, you'll spot migrating birds. In summer, the insect life is extraordinary if you know what you're looking at.

Allow a couple of hours for a proper ramble. The trails aren't formally marked but they're obvious enough once you're there. Go in spring or early summer when the ground has dried out a bit - winter can be genuinely treacherous. Free to visit, no facilities to speak of, so bring what you need.

If you're staying at nearby Kisswood Cabins or Avona Escapes, this is a genuine reason to lace up the boots. It won't blow your mind with views or drama, but it's the kind of place that grows on you - a proper bit of unspoiled Midlands landscape that most tourists completely miss.