The Birchleys

The Birchleys is a proper woodland walk just outside Atherstone, the sort of place where you can actually hear yourself think. It's dense forest - birch and mixed trees mostly - with enough paths to keep you occupied for a good couple of hours without feeling like you're walking in circles. The canopy does its job, so even on drizzly Midlands days the experience feels rather special. Ground's soft underfoot, which is either brilliant or boggy depending on the season.

Walkers will get the most from this one. It's not dramatic - no viewpoints or dramatic drops - but if you're after proper woodland without the crowds of, say, somewhere near a stately home, it delivers. Kids won't hate it, though there's nothing to do once they've tired of jumping in puddles. Bring a decent pair of boots and you'll manage fine.

There's no formal visitor information readily available, so you'll want to pitch up near Atherstone and explore properly. The nearby parks - Nightingales Rustic Camping is closest at under two miles - make sensible bases. It's the sort of spot that works well as a half-day excursion alongside other Leicestershire woodland walks rather than as a standalone destination. Fine for stretching the legs when you're camping locally, genuinely lovely for autumn walks when the light cuts through proper gold.