Horton Woods

You'll find Horton Woods just outside Northampton - a proper woodland escape that doesn't require you to drive half an hour into the Midlands to feel like you've left the town behind. It's the kind of place locals use but tourists often miss, which is exactly why it works. The woods themselves are straightforward: well-maintained paths wind through mature trees, a decent network if you fancy a walk that won't leave your legs screaming. It's good for families with children who can manage an hour or two without needing a café at the end of it, and dog walkers clearly rate it judging by the number of spaniels thundering through the undergrowth when I visited.

There's nothing fancy about Horton Woods. No visitor centre, no gift shop, no staged photo opportunities - just quiet woodland that feels properly separate from the town despite being so close. For walkers it's a solid mid-length circuit option, better suited to a gentle afternoon ramble than serious hiking. If you're based at Billing Aquadrome Holiday Park or one of the other nearby caravan parks, it's worth knowing about as a break from the leisure facilities. It'll take you two to three hours if you don't dawdle, or forty minutes if you just want a quick leg-stretch.

Best visited outside school holidays when it's less crowded. Free to access and no time limits - just show up and go. It won't be the highlight of a Northamptonshire trip, but it's the kind of place that makes a holiday feel less packaged.