Holling Coppice

The woodland around Holling Coppice is proper old-growth forest, the sort of place where you can actually hear yourself think. It's a working coppice woodland in Herefordshire, just inland from Worcester, which means the trees have been managed for centuries - you'll notice the distinctive multi-stemmed growth pattern if you look close. The paths wind through mixed broadleaf forest, mostly oak and hazel, and in spring the bluebells are genuinely something.

This is walkers' territory, full stop. You won't find facilities or interpretation boards - it's not that kind of attraction. What you get is peace, decent trails for anything from a half-hour amble to a couple of hours, and the genuine feeling of being in working countryside rather than a managed tourist spot. Kids will either love it or get bored quickly depending on whether they're the type to hunt for woodland creatures.

Access appears to be free, though details are thin on the ground. Check locally before you go - woodland ownership can be patchy, and you'll want to know if there are any access restrictions. Spring and early summer are best; autumn's lovely too if you're after moody light through the trees.

If you're staying at one of the nearby parks - Redhill Holidays or The Rookery Woods are within a few miles - this makes a proper morning out without needing to venture far. It's the antidote to theme park tourism: just you, the trees, and the occasional sound of a woodpecker.