Scarborough Pits

The Pits sit just outside Broadway, a proper working woodland where you can actually see how a forest manages itself rather than just wander through manicured paths. It's a mix of mature trees, younger growth, and open clearings - the kind of place that makes sense once you realise it's an active timber woodland, not a leisure park.

Walking through reveals small pools, varied undergrowth, and the quiet you only get when there's genuine work happening rather than footfall management. It's low-key, which means fewer crowds but also fewer facilities. There aren't signs telling you what tree is what or where Instagram shots should happen - you make your own route through it.

Best suited to people who actually like forests rather than those expecting attractions. If your kids need a playground or your group wants a specific destination, this isn't it. But if you're staying at one of the nearby parks - Broadway Caravan and Motorhome Club is just 4.4 miles away - and fancy a quiet walk without commitment, it's solid. Allow an hour or so depending on how deep you go in.

The Cotswolds reputation leans heavily toward chocolate-box villages and manicured estates. Scarborough Pits is the antidote to that. It's real working land, which some will find refreshing and others will find slightly rough around the edges. Given it's free and close to Broadway, worth a detour if you're in the area and not afraid of muddy boots.