Jimmy Wood

A proper woodland walk rather than a manicured attraction, Jimmy Wood sits just outside Garstang and rewards you with decent paths through mature trees if you know where to look. The forest floor is thick with moss and fallen branches - hence the slightly boggy patches after rain - and there's enough space to lose the crowds that tend to cluster around more famous Lancashire spots.

It's ideal for families with children old enough to manage uneven ground without constant hand-holding, and walkers after something straightforward without the peak-bagging commitment. You're looking at anywhere from forty minutes to two hours depending on which way you loop it and how slowly you meander. The trees themselves aren't particularly ancient or dramatic, but there's something refreshing about a Lancashire woodland that doesn't try too hard.

We went midweek in autumn when the light was doing interesting things through the canopy. Summer weekends probably draw more visitors, though even then it feels far less trampled than you'd expect. No visitor centre, no facilities that I could spot, so arrive with a full flask and sturdy boots.

If you're staying at one of the caravan parks nearby - Moss Wood is closest at under four miles - this makes a solid morning activity before lunch in Garstang. It's not a destination in itself, but it fills a gap nicely in a broader Lancashire break. Free to access, straightforward to find once you're looking for it.