Short Wood and Southwick Wood

Two woods that don't announce themselves loudly, but reward those who wander in. Short Wood and Southwick Wood sit in the Northamptonshire landscape near Peterborough, offering proper woodland walking rather than theme-park spectacle. The paths wind through mixed broadleaf trees - oak, ash, beech - with the kind of quiet you don't get many places these days. Spring brings bluebells that actually make the effort worthwhile, and autumn is all copper leaves and decent underfoot conditions.

This is walking territory. You're not looking at dramatic vistas or ruined castles, just the simple pleasure of being among trees. The woods work well for families with primary-school kids who can manage a couple of miles without complaint, and for anyone after a proper leg-stretch between campsites. Older walkers and nature types will find the woodland composition interesting enough.

Allow an hour or two depending on your pace and how much you potter about spotting birds and fungi. Free to access - no visitor centre or facilities to speak of, so come prepared. The nearest towns are Peterborough way, but if you're camped at Castle Farm or Brightside - both within a few miles - these woods make a solid morning out without needing to drive far. Rockingham Forest Park is also close by if you want to combine woodland walking with park facilities. Winter walks here can be muddy and miserable, so aim for late spring through to autumn. It's not dramatic or unmissable, but it's exactly what woodland walking in the Midlands should be.