Weedon Pocket Park

You'll find Weedon Pocket Park tucked away just outside Northampton - it's the sort of place locals know about but tourists tend to miss entirely. The reserve itself is modest in size but genuinely rewarding if you're after a proper walk through woodland and grassland without the crowds. Native trees, open meadows, and enough wildlife habitat to keep binoculars trained for a good hour or two.

It works best for walkers rather than families with small children, though older kids who don't mind a bit of mucking about in nature will find plenty to occupy them. Birdwatchers get the most out of it, especially during migration seasons. The paths are straightforward enough, nothing too demanding, and it's the kind of place you visit for peace and quiet rather than facilities or spectacle.

If you're staying at Hideaway Wood Farm - the glamping spot with alpacas just up the road - Weedon makes for an easy morning outing before heading back for lunch. It's also close enough to Whitefeather Campsite that you could slot it in without faffing about with the car. Free admission and no set hours means you can arrive whenever suits you, though earlier in the day tends to be better for spotting wildlife. Allow two hours if you're thorough, ninety minutes if you're just after a leg-stretch.