Parlour Coppice

Ancient woodland doesn't get much more accessible than Parlour Coppice, a proper slice of Warwickshire forest just outside Kenilworth where you can actually wander without needing a machete or a degree in orienteering. The coppiced trees - those deliberately cut and regrown for centuries - create this wonderfully open structure that lets light flood through, so it feels nothing like the dark, claustrophobic woods you sometimes get elsewhere. Walking through in spring, the bluebells absolutely carpet the floor. Autumn's even better if you're into that golden-light-through-the-canopy sort of thing.

It's the kind of place where kids won't complain about being dragged along. There's enough space to let them burn off energy without losing sight of them, and the woodland floor is soft enough that little legs don't get completely knackered. Thirty minutes to an hour is the right amount of time unless you're the meditative type who wants to sit on a log and listen to birds for half the afternoon.

Parking and access seem straightforward enough, though details are thin on the ground - best to ring ahead if you're planning a specific visit. Being free (almost certainly) makes it brilliant value, and you're ideally positioned between Gate Farm Caravan Club CL and Mousley House Farm if you're basing yourself at either. It's the sort of stop you slot in between bigger attractions rather than drive specifically for, but if you're already in the area exploring Kenilworth's castle and gardens, missing Parlour Coppice would be daft.