Under Hill Spring

The spring emerges from the woodland floor like something out of a fairy tale, though the reality is far more geological than magical. Under Hill Spring sits within dense forest just outside Wakefield, a proper pocket of ancient woodland where the water flows clear and cold from beneath the earth. It's the sort of place that rewards a quiet walk rather than a quick snap for social media.

The woodland itself is the main draw here. Paths wind through mature trees, and the spring itself - marked by a small natural pool where the water breaks through - becomes the focal point of a gentle ramble. It's ideal for anyone who wants woodland without the crowds you'd get at the bigger nature reserves. Families with younger children will manage it fine as a short diversion, though there's not much to occupy them beyond splashing at the water's edge and poking about for interesting leaves.

Historically minded visitors might appreciate that this is one of those quietly important water sources that shaped settlement patterns in the area centuries back. Today it's simply a lovely reason to spend an hour in the trees rather than a destination in itself.

No facilities that we're aware of, so bring what you need. It works brilliantly as a break during a park-based holiday - Mapplewell Meadows Farm and Broadlands Farm Touring Caravan Site are both within three miles, making this an easy morning or late-afternoon walk from your pitch. Go when it's not raining if you can; the woodland floor gets boggy, and the magic rather evaporates when you're squelching about in mud.