Mill Banks Wood

Mill Banks Wood is a proper woodland walk just outside Preston - the sort of place you pop into for an hour when the weather's decent, not something you'd plan a whole day around. It's woodland, straightforward as that. You get trees, some paths, the chance to stretch your legs without needing hiking boots or a packed lunch.

Walkers will find it serviceable enough, especially if you're staying at one of the nearby caravan parks like Gibsons Barn or Claylands - both within striking distance for a morning stroll. Families with younger kids might get an hour's worth of entertainment out of it; older children will probably get bored quicker unless they're the type to actually enjoy being in trees without an activity attached.

The wood sits reasonably close to Preston itself, making it handy if you're camped at Orchard Glamping just 1.6 miles away and fancy a break from site life. It's not dramatic scenery - no views to write home about, no rare wildlife spectacles. What it is, though, is accessible and free, which matters when you're on a camping holiday and the weather's turned a bit grey.

Go if you need to move about without faffing. Skip it if you're after woodland drama or a proper forest experience. Realistically, combine it with a trip into Preston itself or use it as a warm-up walk before heading towards better countryside further north.