Tib Wood

The walk into Tib Wood from Carlisle will take the best part of an hour depending on your fitness and how often you stop to check the map, but it's the kind of forest that rewards you for the effort. Ancient woodland, proper old growth stuff, with paths that wind through mature deciduous trees and a sense of genuine peace that's rare this close to a market town.

It's a walker's destination, no two ways about it. Families with young children might find the journey a bit long, but older kids who can manage three or four miles will love the scrambling around roots and the discovery element. History enthusiasts get a kick out of knowing they're walking through woodland that's been here for centuries, even if there's not much in the way of visible monuments.

You'll want to allow three to four hours total from Carlisle - that's walk there, an hour pottering about, and walk back. Spring and early autumn are the best times, when the light filters through properly and you're not battling through summer flies. There's no café or facilities at the wood itself, so bring water and a snack.

If you're based at High Hall Farm Campsite just down the road, this is a cracking day out that actually feels like you've ventured somewhere wild rather than ticked off another woodland walk. The effort of getting there means it stays relatively quiet, which is exactly what you want from a proper forest.