Jubilee Wood

Walking into Jubilee Wood feels like stumbling onto something the guidebooks have forgotten. It's a proper woodland escape just outside Royston, the sort of place where you can actually hear yourself think instead of fighting through crowds. The trees here are mature and tall, creating that dappled light effect that makes even a grey Cambridgeshire afternoon feel atmospheric.

What you get is straightforward - a network of woodland paths that meander through mixed trees and undergrowth. It's not vast, so don't expect hours of hiking, but it's exactly right for a couple of hours if you're staying at one of the nearby glamping or caravan sites. Families with younger kids will manage it without complaints, and dog walkers seem to love the place. There's something about woodland walks that settles people down.

The wood works brilliantly as a half-day outing if you're based at Guilden Gate Glamping or Ashridge Farm - close enough not to feel like a trek, far enough away to feel like proper countryside. Go when the light's good, ideally autumn or early spring when you can actually see through the trees rather than getting swallowed by dense summer foliage. Bring a map or use your phone - signposting is a bit basic. It won't blow your mind, but it's the kind of place that makes a holiday feel less rushed.