Itchington Holt

Walking into Itchington Holt is like stepping into proper woodland - ancient oak and beech trees, dense enough that you forget Leamington Spa's only a few miles south. It's a working forest rather than a manicured country park, which means the paths can be muddy and the undergrowth is left to do its thing. That's exactly why it's worth the visit.

You'll want two to three hours here, depending on how deep you fancy going. The trails wind through mixed woodland with a real sense of being properly tucked away. It's brilliant for families with older children who don't need everything signposted - kids will love hunting for wildlife among the trees. If you're a walker staying nearby, it beats the obvious tourist spots by a mile. Leamington Spa's close enough that you can knock this out as a half-day outing without wasting travel time.

If you're basing yourself at one of the local caravan parks - Harbury Fields Farm is closest at just over three miles away - this works well as a morning activity before heading into town or trying the surrounding area. The woodland's open access, free to walk, and it's one of those places where you'll likely have the path mostly to yourself even on decent weekends. Wear proper boots though. The ground gets waterlogged and slippery, especially if there's been rain.