Well Coppice

A proper woodland walk this one, if you're after some quiet time under the trees near Peterborough. Well Coppice isn't what you'd call a manicured country estate - it's working woodland, mixed broadleaf and conifer in parts, the sort of place where you actually feel like you've stepped away from the roads.

The paths are decent enough, though muddy in winter - bring proper boots if you've had rain. You'll find bluebells come spring, which draws the crowds, but go mid-week in summer and you might have it almost to yourself. An hour's walk is plenty to see what's on offer; there's no grand viewpoint or tea room at the end, just trees and the odd clearing where the light breaks through nicely.

It works well for families with kids old enough to walk without constant hand-holding, and serious walkers tend to use it as a leg between bigger routes. If you're staying at New Lodge Farm Bulwick just down the road - that's only 4.5 miles away - this makes for a morning sortie before heading to the parks or attractions around Northamptonshire.

Admission is free as far as I can tell, though parking might be limited depending on where you access it from. Not the showiest woodland in the region, but that's rather the point. Go for the solitude and the straightforward forest walk, not for Instagram moments.