Little Horwood Recreation Ground

The grassy expanse of Little Horwood Recreation Ground sits just outside Milton Keynes, a proper local spot rather than a destination that'll have you rearranging your holiday around it. It's the kind of place where you'll find dog walkers, families sprawling on blankets, and the occasional dog-eared cricket match happening on a weekend afternoon.

What you're getting here is open grassland with a few trees dotted about - nothing dramatic, nothing manicured to within an inch of its life. It functions as a nature reserve, so there are habitats worth exploring if you're into spotting birds or checking what insects are about, but this isn't a cathedral of nature. It's honest work: good for stretching legs, letting the kids burn off some steam, maybe spotting a sparrowhawk if you're lucky.

Families with younger children will find it useful for a couple of hours, particularly on a sunny day. Walkers passing through the area might pop in as part of a larger route, though you won't need more than 45 minutes unless you're doing some proper birdwatching. The ground itself is usually accessible without fuss.

If you're staying at Embers Camping near Claydon, just five miles away, this is exactly the sort of low-key green space that justifies a morning visit before heading elsewhere in the area. Don't expect manicured paths or visitor facilities - just come with sensible shoes and modest expectations, and you'll leave thinking it was time well spent.