H B & N I Forster

The H B & N I Forster nature reserve sits quietly on the edge of Hexham territory, the kind of place that doesn't announce itself loudly but rewards those who bother to find it. This is proper Northumberland countryside - open moorland and scrubby woodland where you're more likely to hear a curlew than encounter crowds.

It's a walker's spot, fundamentally. The reserve offers decent trails through habitat that shifts between heathland and scattered trees, and the views across the landscape are genuine rather than postcard-ready. You'll see kestrels if you're lucky, and the ground cover changes with the seasons - purple with heather in late summer, bone-dry and golden in autumn.

Allow a couple of hours for a proper wander. There's no visitor centre or facilities to speak of, which is either liberating or disappointing depending on your outlook. It's free to access, which matters when you're deciding between a dozen walks within striking distance of Hexham.

Families with young children might find it a bit flat after the first half-hour - there's no dramatic payoff, no waterfall or ruined castle at the top. Serious birdwatchers and plant enthusiasts will take far more from it. Photographers will appreciate the big skies and changing light.

If you're based at Springhouse Boutique Holiday Park nearby, this works well as a morning's walk before heading into Hexham for lunch. It's the kind of reserve that feels local rather than touristy - which, for some, is exactly the point.