Run Free at Freeby

The name alone tells you what Freeby is about - a proper open space near Oakham where you can actually let loose. It's the kind of spot that works brilliantly if you've parked up at one of the nearby caravan sites like Greendale Farm or Eye Kettleby Lakes and you're after a break from the motorhome.

Freeby itself is a small village, and the appeal here is straightforward: it's green, it's open, and there's room to move about. Families with restless kids will appreciate having somewhere they can run around without worrying about traffic or getting in anyone's way. Dog walkers absolutely love it. The Rutland landscape around Oakham isn't dramatic - it's gentle, rolling farmland - but that's rather the point. There's a calmness to it.

The village won't take you hours. You're looking at a walk through open countryside, maybe thirty minutes to an hour depending on how far you fancy going. In summer it's properly pleasant; autumn and winter can be muddy, so pack decent boots.

What makes it genuinely useful for park holidays is the proximity to Eye Kettleby Lakes and The Grange. You can knock this over in the morning, head back to your caravan for lunch, then tackle a lake walk in the afternoon. It fills a gap nicely - gives you a bit of space and fresh air without needing to plan a major expedition. Leicestershire won't blow your mind, but Freeby does what it says on the tin.