Park Hall Country Park

The grounds spread across several hundred acres just outside Stoke-on-Trent, offering a proper escape from the Potteries. Park Hall is essentially a country estate with woodland walks, open fields, and the sort of space that makes you remember why you left the town in the first place.

What you'll find here depends partly on the season and what events are running, but the main draw is the walking. The paths wind through mature trees and across parkland - nothing too taxing, but enough to feel like you've actually done something. The estate itself has historical bones (it's been worked over centuries), though the grounds themselves are what matter. On a decent day this is exactly the sort of spot to bring a family for a few hours, let the kids run about, and actually sit down without checking your phone every five seconds.

It's free to wander the grounds, which is the main reason to come. Allow a couple of hours if you're doing the full circuit, less if you just fancy a walk. Autumn is probably best - the light comes through the trees properly then, and you avoid the summer crowds.

If you're based at Stone Wall Farm CL or Luzlow Caravan Site just down the road, this is an obvious choice. It's close enough that you can drop in for an afternoon without the rigmarole of packing and driving for hours. The Midlands has better attractions, but for a straightforward country walk when you're staying locally, it does the job.