Fowlers Coppice

The woodland around Fowlers Coppice near Bridgnorth is the kind of place you stumble into rather than plan a trip around - though you'd be daft not to if you're in the area. It's proper forest, the sort where you can actually breathe properly and hear yourself think, which is rarer than it should be in Shropshire.

You're walking through mixed woodland with decent paths that won't trash your boots even after rain. The trees are mature enough to create genuine shade, and in late spring the bluebells do their usual show-off routine. It's not dramatic landscape - no craggy peaks or panoramic vistas - but it's exactly what people need when they've had enough of staring at their phones.

This works best for walkers who want an hour or two to themselves rather than families needing an all-day spectacle. Kids won't hold interest beyond the initial "look at the woods" novelty, though if you've got older ones who actually enjoy walking without complaining, they'll be fine. Bring a decent map or phone signal because the paths aren't always obviously marked.

If you're staying at Wheathill Touring Park just down the road, it's a handy escape route when the campsite gets a bit much. The forest has that meditative quality that makes you forget you've parked a caravan a few miles away. Free access, obviously - it's woodland. Go early if you want solitude, or don't if you're just after a straightforward walk without the Instagram crowds.