Hollow Wood

The moment you step into Hollow Wood, you're wrapped in the kind of silence that only proper woodland gives you. It's a decent-sized forest near Corby, decent enough to lose an hour or two without feeling rushed, though it won't take all day either. The paths wind through mature trees with enough undergrowth to feel genuinely wild - not a theme park version of nature, just actual woodland doing its thing.

Walkers get the most from this. If you're staying at New Lodge Farm Bulwick or Brightside Caravan Park nearby, it's an easy leg-stretch that won't require hiking boots and a packed lunch. Kids will cope for a bit - there's enough to explore and spots where the light filters through nicely for photos - but they'll be restless after an hour unless they're the type to build dens and turn sticks into swords.

Bring wellies if it's been wet. The paths aren't maintained like country estates, which is rather the point. You'll find proper mud, uneven ground, and tree roots underfoot. No visitor centre, no facilities that I could find, no entry fee either from what I could gather - it's just open woodland, the way forests should be.

Combine it with a walk around one of the caravan parks' grounds or a quick trip into Corby itself rather than banking the whole morning on it. That way you're not disappointed if you've expected something grander. It's straightforward woodland, genuinely atmospheric, and free. That'll do.