Hockley Heath Recreation Ground

The heathland here spreads across what feels like proper countryside despite being wedged between Henley-in-Arden and the outskirts of Birmingham. It's a working nature reserve that's stayed largely overlooked by day-trippers, which means you'll often have the walking paths to yourself.

What you get is open heath and woodland - the sort of terrain that changes with the seasons. Spring brings bluebells thick enough to make the whole place look blue from a distance. Summer's too hot to linger in the open bits, but the tree cover keeps things bearable. Autumn's honestly the best time, when the bracken turns copper and the light sits low and golden across the heathland. Winter's quiet and a bit bleak, which has its own appeal if you like that sort of thing.

Walkers will get the most out of this. It's not dramatic or Instagram-friendly - there are no viewpoints with valley views or dramatic rock formations. What it offers instead is the chance to walk for an hour or two without seeing another soul or hearing anything much beyond birds. History types might appreciate that this is remnant heathland, the kind of landscape that used to cover chunks of the Midlands before farming and development took over.

Based near Mousley House Farm or Wootton Park Glamping Pods, you could easily spend a morning here before heading into Henley-in-Arden proper for lunch. Allow two hours for a decent circuit. The ground gets boggy after rain - wellies aren't silly.

It won't blow your mind. But if you're after a straightforward walk in actual countryside without the crush of honeypot spots, it delivers.