Eels Wood

The woodland around Eels Wood, just outside Stocksfield, is one of those places that creeps up on you. You're walking through what feels like proper forest - tall trees, uneven ground, proper root-strewn paths - and suddenly you realise you've left the road noise behind entirely. It's not vast, but it's genuine woodland, the kind where you half expect to spot a red squirrel or at least hear one crashing about in the canopy.

This works best for people who actually enjoy a forest walk rather than somewhere to grab Instagram photos. The appeal is straightforward: you're in the trees, breathing better air, moving your legs. There are paths through the wood, though they're not dramatically signposted or manicured. Bring decent boots if there's been rain - it gets muddy in places. Plan on an hour to ninety minutes depending on how much wandering about you want to do. Kids will either love this or get bored within twenty minutes, depending entirely on the child.

What makes it worthwhile is location. You're minutes from Stocksfield, which means it slots perfectly into a longer Northumberland walk or a break from Valley View Camping & Glamping down the road. It's not the sort of place you'd travel an hour to visit, but if you're in the area, it's a solid addition to a day's plan. Free to access, naturally. Go midweek if you can - weekends bring more foot traffic, and frankly, forests feel better when they're quiet.