Hill Plantation

You'll find yourself walking into proper woodland just east of Cambridge, where Hill Plantation sits as one of those quiet corners locals actually know about. It's a genuine forest walk rather than a manicured park - the kind of place where you're dodging roots and picking your way through bracken, not strolling on tarmac paths. The trees are old enough to feel like you've stepped back a few centuries, and in autumn the light filtering through the canopy turns everything gold.

History enthusiasts will appreciate that this isn't just any patch of trees. There's substance here - this is ancient woodland with real character, the sort of place that makes you understand why people used to respect forests. Families with reasonably energetic kids will get a good couple of hours out of it, though it's not playground material and younger toddlers might struggle with the uneven ground.

The walk works brilliantly as part of a broader Cambridge exploration, especially if you're staying at HappenOak Treehouse nearby - there's a nice symmetry to sleeping in the trees and then walking through them. Allow a couple of hours if you're taking it slowly, less if you just want to push through. Best visited when it's not been raining for days, because the paths do get boggy. No facilities that I'm aware of, so bring what you need. Worth the detour if you're after actual forest rather than designed parkland.