Heath Park

The moment you step into Heath Park, you're in proper open countryside - wide open grassland dotted with patches of scrub and woodland that feels genuinely wild despite being minutes from Hemel Hempstead. This is a working nature reserve, not a manicured park, and that's exactly what makes it worth the visit.

You get maybe 50 hectares to wander through, with paths that loop around depending on how much energy you've got. The heath itself is the draw - it's the kind of landscape that's become rare in Hertfordshire, which means the wildlife is genuinely interesting. Birdwatchers come here specifically; if you know your birds you'll spot things worth the binoculars. Spring and early summer are best, when the scrub comes alive.

It's free, obviously, and there are no facilities to speak of, so bring water. Most people spend an hour or two here rather than making a full day of it. Families with young kids might find it a bit basic - there's nothing to do except walk and look, which some love and others find dull.

If you're camping nearby - Fuzzy's Farm is barely two miles away - it makes a proper complement to your holiday. You get the structured campsite comfort at night, then mornings here with the thermos and a decent coat. The other thing worth knowing: it's genuinely quiet. Go midweek and you might have it almost entirely to yourself.