Waste Wood

The trees here are dense enough that you lose the sky within minutes of stepping in. Waste Wood, just outside Holmrook, is the kind of forest walk that delivers proper solitude - no marked trails, no visitor centre, just you and what feels like genuine Lake District wilderness. The woodland floor is thick with moss and fallen timber, and if you time it right after rain, the whole place smells alive in that ancient way old forests do.

This works best for walkers who want to escape the honeypots. You're looking at a decent ramble through mixed woodland with gullies and streams cutting through - nothing dramatic, but satisfying in its quiet way. Bring decent boots because it gets boggy, and an Ordnance Survey map because the paths aren't obvious. It's free, takes anything from an hour to half a day depending on how thoroughly you want to explore, and there's no queue, no admission desk, no gift shop.

Families with young kids might find it a bit too rough-and-ready - no facilities, no interpretation, easy to get turned around. For serious walkers based at Fisherground Campsite nearby, though, it's a genuine alternative to the trodden paths of the main valley. Go early, go alone or with someone quiet, and expect to feel properly away from things. The Lake District has plenty of manicured forest walks. This isn't one of them.