Stokepark Wood

The woodland at Stokepark sits just outside Milton Keynes, a proper escape from the urban sprawl without requiring a long drive. You're walking through mixed broadleaf and conifer forest - the sort of place where the light filters through in shafts and you actually hear birdsong instead of traffic.

It's the kind of forest that works well for families wanting a straightforward woodland walk, though don't expect dramatic vistas or dramatic terrain. The paths are manageable, decent for pushing a buggy if you're not too bothered about rough ground. History types will find it less gripping than you might hope - it's pleasant woodland rather than somewhere dripping with stories. That said, walkers passing through the area will appreciate the quiet and the chance to stretch legs properly away from roads.

Going in autumn is probably best when the light's warmer and the floor's carpeted with leaves. Spring brings bluebells if you time it right. Summer can feel a bit thick with undergrowth, to be honest.

The nearby parks - Cosgrove Park, Ekeney House, and The Home Farm - make Stokepark Wood a natural addition to a weekend trip rather than a destination in itself. None of them are far away, so you could combine a morning walk here with a base camp at one of the holiday parks nearby. Allow a couple of hours maximum unless you're genuinely keen on woodland botany. It's the kind of place that justifies an outing if you're already in the area, not the kind you'd plan a journey around.