Simkins Spinney

A small woodland patch just outside Royston, Simkins Spinney is the sort of place you'd stumble upon by accident and wonder why you hadn't been before. It's proper woodland - dense trees, leaf litter underfoot, the kind of spot where you actually feel like you've left civilization behind even though you're barely a mile from town.

The spinney works best as a short walking break rather than a destination in itself. Most people spend thirty minutes to an hour threading through the trees, following whatever paths exist that day. There's nothing fancy here - no facilities, no interpretation boards - just woodland as it comes. Kids who like climbing and exploring will get more out of it than those expecting a manicured trail experience. Dog walkers practically live here.

If you're camping at one of the nearby parks - Guilden Gate Glamping and Cambridgeshire Lakes are both within cycling distance - it makes a logical addition to a morning ramble before heading to somewhere bigger like Wimpole Estate or Hatfield Forest. Don't expect it to take up half your day. It won't.

Best visited in autumn when the woodland floor is thick with leaves and the canopy has thinned enough to let proper light through. Winter's muddy, summer can feel airless and dense. Access appears unrestricted, though there's nowhere obvious to park - you'll be looking at roadside spots and hoofing it in.