Honey Wood

Ancient oak trees tower overhead as you step into this proper woodland escape just outside Hereford. Honey Wood offers exactly what stressed families need - a place where kids can run wild without traffic worries and parents can actually relax for half an hour.

Well-worn paths wind through mature broadleaf forest, though don't expect fancy waymarking or visitor centres. This is woodland as it should be - a bit rough around the edges but all the better for it. The canopy filters sunlight beautifully on summer afternoons, creating those dappled shadows that make even mediocre phone photos look decent.

Families with energetic children will get the most from a visit here. There's enough space for proper games of hide and seek, and the fallen logs make natural obstacle courses. Dog walkers love it too, though keep leads handy as the paths can be muddy after rain.

Allow an hour or two rather than making it a full day out. The wood works brilliantly as a morning stretch-the-legs stop before heading to nearby holiday parks like Heart of the Wye Glamping or Poston Mill. Spring brings bluebells if you time it right, though autumn's probably the most atmospheric season when the leaves crunch underfoot and everything smells properly earthy.