The Long Walk Park

The Long Walk Park in Bracknell Forest is a proper local sports facility that punches above its weight for a casual afternoon out. It's the sort of place where you'll find everything from football pitches to tennis courts, all laid out sensibly across open grounds that feel surprisingly spacious given how close you are to Windsor.

Walkers and dog owners get genuine value here - the park's design means you can loop around the perimeter without feeling hemmed in by the sports activity. If you've got kids who need to burn off energy, the open pitches and courts give them room to roam, though this isn't a destination visit unless you're specifically using the facilities. It's more the kind of place you discover when you're based at one of the nearby caravan parks - Cranbourne Hall or Queens Acre are just a couple of miles away - and you need somewhere to stretch your legs.

The grounds are free to wander, which is the main appeal. Sports bookings obviously cost, but if you're just passing through or doing a recce of what's available locally, there's no charge. Allow 45 minutes for a decent walk round, longer if you're genuinely using the facilities.

For a caravan holiday in the area, it slots in as a useful backup plan rather than a headline attraction. Windsor's close enough for the castle and riverside walks to be your main focus, but on a quiet afternoon when you fancy something low-key and local, The Long Walk Park works perfectly.