The Dog Walking Field - Bury St Edmunds

It's exactly what the name suggests - a proper open space where locals take their dogs for a run about. Nothing fancy, just a field on the edge of Bury St Edmunds where you can let your spaniel off the lead without worrying about traffic or sheep. The ground's generally well-maintained, there's enough room to throw a ball without hitting anyone, and you'll usually find a handful of other dog owners doing much the same thing on any given afternoon.

If you're staying at The Four Bells Glamping or Church View Campsite with a four-legged friend, this is your go-to spot. You won't need more than forty minutes here unless your dog's got the energy of three Border Collies, but it does exactly what it says on the tin. There's no café, no viewing platform, no Instagram moment - just grass, air, and happy dogs.

The real draw is convenience and the fact it's genuinely free. Park up, let the dog tire itself out, grab a coffee back in town. Bury St Edmunds itself has plenty to keep you occupied - the abbey ruins are proper interesting if you're into medieval history - but if you've just got a dog that needs exercise after a long drive, you could do worse. It's functional rather than a destination in itself, but that's rather the point.