The Oaks

You'll find yourself walking under proper ancient oak trees here, the kind with gnarled trunks that have been doing their thing for centuries. The Oaks is a forest patch near Peterborough in Northamptonshire - straightforward stuff, no visitor centre or café, just woodland the way it should be. Paths wind through and you get decent shade, which matters more than you'd think on a hot day.

It's ideal if you've got walkers in the group rather than young kids looking for attractions. Adults after a quiet hour or two will appreciate it. The forest floor is soft underfoot and there's enough variety in the terrain to keep things interesting without being demanding. Time it for spring and the woodland floor comes alive. Autumn's decent too if you like that golden light filtering through the canopy.

If you're based at Rockingham Forest Park - just 1.6 miles away - you've got a natural extension to your morning. Same goes for any of the nearby glamping spots like The Nest or Stamford Meadows. It's the sort of place you don't need hours for. Ninety minutes gets you round comfortably, though you can stretch it if you're in no rush. Free to access and no booking required.

Honestly, it's not a destination in itself. But if you're staying locally and want to get outside without faffing about, it does the job well. The trees are the attraction here - nothing fancy, nothing staged. Sometimes that's exactly what you want.