Grange Wood

The woodland walk through Grange Wood sits just outside Cockermouth, and it's the sort of place that reveals itself slowly as you push deeper in. Ancient oaks and conifers create a proper canopy overhead, with enough light filtering through to make the forest floor feel alive rather than gloomy. Paths wind through at an easy pace, so it's manageable for most fitness levels without feeling like you're just strolling around a park.

Walkers will find this most rewarding. The routes allow you to spend anywhere from forty minutes to a couple of hours depending on which way you turn, and the woodland keeps things quiet even when other attractions nearby are rammed. There's nothing fancy here - no café, no visitor centre, no picnic tables screaming at you - which is precisely why it works. Kids won't complain of boredom if they're the type to look for moss and fallen branches, but toddlers might find it a bit much.

If you're parked up at Harbour Side Caravan Park down the road, this makes a proper stretch-your-legs option between lazing about and heading into Cockermouth town itself. It's free to walk, open all hours really, and the ground can get boggy after rain so decent boots matter. Spring brings bluebells if you time it right, though summer's better for not getting soaked. Worth the ten-minute drive from base camp, though don't expect dramatic views - this is quiet woodland, nothing more, nothing less.