Larches Wood

Walk into Larches Wood and you're trading Preston's edge for proper woodland - the kind with actual quiet. It's a forest that does what forests do best: gives you trees, a path, and space to think without much fuss.

The wood itself isn't massive, which is fine. You're looking at a straightforward walk through Lancashire's green bit, with the sort of canopy that makes everything feel a step removed from the town nearby. There's no visitor centre, no cafe, no facilities to speak of - just you and the paths. That's either exactly what you want or not what you want, depending on your mood.

Walkers will get the most from it. Families with young kids might manage an hour, though there's nothing to hold their attention beyond the usual woodland appeal - sticks, mud, the odd bird. History buffs won't find much here. It's straightforward nature, not a monument or trail with heritage markers.

Free access, no stated hours, minimal infrastructure. Bring decent boots if it's been wet. Give it 45 minutes to an hour, longer if you're the type to sit on a log and listen.

Coupled with a stay at Smithills View or Brylea - both within walking distance - Larches Wood works as a morning walk before heading to somewhere with more going on. It's the sort of place that suits a park-based holiday where you want one quiet day among the busier ones. Not essential. Genuine though.