Greenham & Crookham Common Nature Reserve

The Common stretches across 1,200 acres of heathland and woodland between Newbury and Hook - proper wild country in what you'd otherwise assume was commuter belt. Walk it on a clear day and you'll understand why locals fiercely protect the place. The terrain is open heath in patches, with birch scrub and conifer plantations that create little pockets of shade. Adders sun themselves on the paths in summer, so watch where you step if kids are with you.

This is genuinely free to roam, accessible from several points around the edge. Allow anywhere from an hour for a gentle circuit to half a day if you want to do serious walking. The paths are reasonably well marked but can be boggy after rain - proper boots recommended. Spring brings heather and gorse flowers; autumn turns the birches golden. Winter's quieter but the skeletal trees let you see right across the landscape.

Family groups with older children will get the most from it - younger kids might find two hours enough before restlessness sets in. History types should know the Common hosted an American air base during World War Two; you'll spot remnants if you know where to look. It's a walker's place more than a destination attraction, which is exactly why it matters.

Staying nearby, Bishops Green Farm Campsite sits just 1.6 miles away - a decent base for combining this with other Berkshire walking. Cherry Bird Country Park is similarly close. The Common makes a proper morning or afternoon break from park life, especially if the weather holds.