Sullom Wood

A proper woodland walk just outside Preston, Sullom Wood offers what Lancashire does best - quiet green space that doesn't demand much fanfare. It's a straightforward forest trail through established woodland, the kind of place where you can actually hear yourself think rather than fight through crowds.

The walk itself is pleasant enough. Mixed deciduous trees, decent paths, and that earthy smell that means you've left the Preston sprawl behind. There's nothing dramatic here - no ravines, no rare orchids, no Instagram moments. But if you're after a genuine bit of woodland without the tourist machinery, it works. Most people will do this in 45 minutes to an hour, depending on which routes you fancy.

Families with younger kids will get an hour's entertainment easily enough. Older children might find it a touch dull unless they're genuinely into nature spotting. It's the sort of place you'd bring a dog and a coffee thermos on a Saturday morning, not the sort you'd drive 40 minutes for specifically.

Staying at one of the nearby caravan parks - Claylands or Gibsons Barn are your closest bets at around three miles - makes this a useful add-on to a Lancashire park holiday rather than a main event. Combine it with a day in Preston town centre or a visit to the coastal resorts further west, and you've got a well-rounded break. Free entry, no facilities to speak of, so come prepared.