Scotts Park

You'll find yourself in proper Cheviot country at Scotts Park, a nature reserve that sits just outside Wooler in the heart of Northumberland. It's the kind of place where you can actually hear yourself think - no theme park crowds, just woodland paths and open grassland that roll toward the hills beyond.

The reserve works best for anyone who wants a gentle walk without the hard slog. Families with younger kids will manage it fine, though it's not a full day's entertainment unless you're the type to dawdle and spot birds for hours. Walkers using it as a warm-up before tackling the Cheviots properly will find the terrain straightforward. Bring binoculars if you're into your wildlife - this is a decent spot for seeing woodland birds and the occasional red squirrel if you're lucky.

It's free to wander, and you can easily spend an hour or two here depending on how much time you want to invest. The paths are accessible enough that you won't need special kit, though proper footwear matters after rain when things get boggy.

If you're based at Riverside Wooler Holiday Park or Highburn House Caravan Park - both just a few minutes' walk away - Scotts Park makes a useful morning outing before heading into Wooler itself for lunch. It pairs well with the bigger landscape around it rather than standing as a destination in its own right. Useful rather than unmissable.