Harlestone Firs Forest Walk

The walk through Harlestone Firs takes you into proper woodland - tall conifers mixed with deciduous trees, the ground soft underfoot and the air noticeably cooler once you're a few minutes in. It's the sort of place where you can actually hear yourself think, which makes a nice change from Northampton's suburbs. The paths are well-trodden and straightforward, nothing technical, and you're unlikely to feel lost even if you haven't got a map.

This is ideal for anyone after a decent woodland stroll without drama. Families with young legs will manage it fine - it's not arduous, just a proper forest walk. Dog walkers love it. If you're into birdwatching or just want to spot what's actually living in an English woodland, you'll find plenty of interest.

Allow a couple of hours maximum. In autumn the place looks genuinely good with the colour change, and spring's decent too when the birds are active. Winter's quieter but the bare branches open up sight lines you don't get in summer.

Being barely five miles from Northampton town centre, it slots in easily with a caravan park stay - Billing Aquadrome and Blisworth Park are both within striking distance. It's the sort of walk you'd do mid-holiday when you fancy something low-key but proper rather than another car journey. There's no charge as far as we can tell, no facilities to speak of, so bring what you need. It won't blow your mind, but it does exactly what a forest walk should do.