Monkspath Wood

The woodland paths through Monkspath Wood feel properly isolated, despite being just outside Kenilworth - which is saying something given how built-up the surrounding area gets. This is ancient forest, the sort of place where the tree canopy gets so thick you'd swear it was dusk at midday, and the ground stays damp and springy even weeks after rain.

It's a walker's wood, really. No dramatic viewpoints or heritage buildings to tick off, just good honest woodland with enough paths to lose a couple of hours without breaking much of a sweat. The understory is thick enough to keep kids interested - mushrooms in autumn, bluebells in spring, the occasional spotted woodpecker if you're lucky and quiet. Bring binoculars and a decent pair of boots; the mud is genuine.

If you're staying at Gate Farm Caravan Club or Mousley House Farm - both within spitting distance - this is exactly the sort of morning or late afternoon option that keeps a week-long park holiday from feeling samey. You're not fighting crowds, there's no entrance fee nonsense to worry about, and it genuinely feels like you've stepped out of Warwickshire's commuter belt entirely.

Worth the detour? Only if you like woods for their own sake. There's nothing Instagram-worthy here, nothing tickboxable. But that's rather the point. Go when it's been dry for a few days, and you'll have something worth writing home about.