Holdens Breast

You'll find yourself among proper old woodland the moment you turn off towards Holdens Breast, just outside Clitheroe. It's a forest walk rather than a manicured attraction, which means you're getting the real thing - tall trees, uneven ground, and that particular quiet you only get when the outside world properly falls away.

The walk itself is straightforward enough for families with older kids, though younger ones might find the terrain a bit much. Allow a good hour if you're taking photos or just pottering about, though you could tick it off in forty minutes if you're properly marching. There's something satisfying about forests in Lancashire - they're not dramatic, but they're honest, and Holdens Breast delivers exactly that.

It works brilliantly as a break from caravan park life. If you're staying at Cross Lane or Beacon Fell View - both excellent sites, mind you - this is the sort of place to head for an afternoon when the weather's holding and everyone needs to burn off some energy without driving miles. The woods are free to explore, which means no surprises at the gate.

Win or lose, you're not going for views or historical drama here. You're going because Lancashire's ancient woodlands are worth knowing, and Holdens Breast gives you that without any faffing about. Take proper boots though - it gets boggy in places, and the path can be slippery after rain.